Alpha-carotene is a provitamin A carotenoid present in fruits and vegetables. Higher serum concentrations of α-carotene have been associated with lower risk of cancer and all-cause mortality. It was suggested that genetic variants influence serum concentrations of provitamin A. Recently was found, that α-carotene effectively inhibits Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) metastasis and suppresses lung metastasis in combination with taxol in LLC-bearing mice, suggesting that Alpha-carotene could be used as an anti-metastatic agent or as an adjuvant for anti-cancer drugs.

Beta-carotene is found in many foods and is sold as a dietary supplement. Beta-carotene is a carotenoid, weak antioxidant; precursor of vitamin A, which is essential for vision and growth. Used to reduce the severity of photosensitivity reactions in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). Has been used in high-dose antioxidant supplements containing ascorbic acid and vitamin E with zinc in high-risk patients with age-related macular degeneration. Beta-carotene is also used to decrease asthma symptoms caused by exercise; to prevent certain cancers, heart disease, cataracts; and to treat AIDS, alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, epilepsy, headache, heartburn, high blood pressure, infertility, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, and skin disorders including psoriasis and vitiligo.

Propiolactone (or beta-propiolactone) is a disinfectant used in vapor form to sterilize vaccines, grafts, blood plasma, surgical instruments. It has been used against bacteria, fungi, and virus. Propiolactone was first commercially available in the United States in 1958 but then was withdrawn because it was discovered that compound was a human carcinogen. The results have shown the generation of tumors in several tissues and from different administration routes. Propiolactone is a direct-acting alkylating agent that reacts with polynucleotides and DNA, mainly at N7 of guanine and N1 of adenine, to form carboxyethyl derivatives.

Beta-sitosterol is one of the main dietary phytosterols found in plants which have a similar skeleton as cholesterol. In human clinical trials, beta-sitosterol has been shown to have cholesterol-lowering effects and to relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. There has been a large amount of basic research conducted for potential applications of beta-sitosterol in a diverse range of conditions including cervical cancer, breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, and others. Beta-sitosterol is available over the counter as a natural health supplement and is marketed for a wide range of applications including headaches, tuberculosis, allergies, cancers, fibromyalgia, lupus, asthma, hair loss and many others.

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.