Natural bicyclic sesquiterpenes, β‐caryophyllene (BCP) and β‐caryophyllene oxide (BCPO), are present in a large number of plants worldwide. Both BCP and BCPO possess significant anticancer activities, affecting growth and proliferation of numerous cancer cells. BCP is a phytocannabinoid with strong affinity to cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2 ), but not cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1 ). In opposite, BCP oxidation derivative, BCPO, does not exhibit CB1/2 binding, thus the mechanism of its action is not related to endocannabinoid system (ECS) machinery. It is known that BCPO alters several key pathways for cancer development, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), PI3K/AKT/mTOR/S6K1 and STAT3 pathways. In addition, treatment with this compound reduces the expression of procancer genes/proteins, while increases the levels of those with proapoptotic properties. Either as a pure substance or a component of plant essential oils, BCPO was found to exhibit antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, anticarcinogenic, and analgesic properties. β-caryophyllene oxide evidenced potent cytotoxic activity against HepG2, AGS, HeLa, SNU-1, and SNU-16 cells, with IC50 values of 3.95, 12.6, 13.55, 16.79, and 27.39 uM, respectively.

β-ionone shown to be a key intermediate in the synthesis of vitamin A. Can be isolated from the volatile oil of Boronia megastigma Nees, Rutaceae or by condensing citral with acetone. From animal experiments it can be concluded that β¬-ionone is absorbed after oral exposure. Metabolism takes place mainly in the liver. ¬ β-Ionone has only low acute toxicity after oral ingestion. The substance naturally occurs as a biogenic volatile organic compound and shows a ubiquitous occurrence in the air due to emissions from plants or surface waters.

Beta-alanine is an endogenous agonist of glycine receptor, which is used a supplementation among competitive athletes participating in a range of different sports. Beta-alanine has been shown to enhance muscular endurance and its supplementation appears to be most effective for exercise tasks that rely heavily on ATP synthesis from anaerobic glycolysis.

α-Asarone is a phytochemical compound with neuroprotective, anti-oxidative, anticonvulsive and cognitive enhancing action, isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Acorus tatarinowii. Numerous clinical studies in China had indicated the effectiveness of α-asarone against respiratory disorders and epilepsy. Asarone tablets have been clinically used as bronchial asthma and bronchitis prescription drug in China. Unfortunately, toxic and genotoxic studies of a-asarone have indicated that this compound may pose a risk to human health, including embryotoxicity and maternal toxicity in rats, hepatotoxicity in rat-cultivated hepatocytes, and in vivo and in vitro genotoxic damage in mammalian cells.