Senkyunolide A is one of the major ingredients in a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb Rhizoma Chuanxiong. This herb is derived from the dried rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort (Umbelliferae) and is one of the most commonly used TCM herbs for the treatment of cardio and cerebrovascular diseases in China. Senkyunolide A has a low oral bioavailability. It has anti-cancer potential. Senkyunolide A may be considered as potential drug candidate for treating inflammatory processes associated with cerebrovascular diseases and related disorders based on their inhibitory activity on TNF-alpha production and TNF-alpha bioactivity.

CEP-33779 is a selective JAK2 inhibitor (IC50 of 1.8 nM) developed by Cephalon, Inc for treating autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus nephritis) and cancer. CEP-33779 orally administrated with 55 mg/kg inhibits phosphorylation of STAT5 in HEL92 tumor extracts from HEL92 xenograft mice. CEP33779 orally administered twice daily at the dose of 55 mg/kg reduces mean paw edema and clinical scores in mice with collagen-antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) or collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). CEP-33779 orally administered twice daily at the dose of 55 mg/kg totally inhibits paw phospho-STAT3 expression in CAIA or CIA mice, associated with decreased cytokines including IL-12, IFNγ, IL-2, IL-1β, TNFα, and GM-CSF. CEP33779 results in reduced bone degradation, reduced tissue destruction, and reduced osteoarthritis in a dose-dependent manner in CAIA or CIA mice. CEP33779 orally administrated at 100 mg/kg extends survival and reduces splenomegaly/lymphomegaly in MRL/lpr systemic lupus erythematosus mice, thus protect mice from developing glomerulonephritis. CEP-33779 orally administrated at 100 mg/kg decreases several SLE-associated proinflammatory cytokines and reduces levels of a bone resorption biomarker associated with increased osteoclast activity in MRL/lpr systemic lupus erythematosus mice. CEP33779 orally administered twice daily at the dose of 55 mg/kg induces regression of established colorectal tumors, reduces angiogenesis, and reduces proliferation of tumor cells in a mouse model of colitis-induced colorectal cancer. Tumor regression correlated with inhibition of STAT3 and NF-κB (RelA/p65) activation, and decreased the expression of proinflammatory, tumor-promoting cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β

Levistolide A is a naturally occurring compound isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cancer. Levistolide has been studied in vitro against cell models for colon cancer and breast cancer. It was effective at inducing ER programmed apoptosis in colon cancer cells. In a cell model for breast cancer, levistolide was shown to enhance the apoptotic effects of adriamycin and vincristine. The effect of levistomide is correlated with cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase PARP and up-regulation of caspase-3.