Sophocarpine is a dehydrogenation derivative of the bis-quinolizidine alkaloid matrine. Sophocarpine is also an active component in sophora alkaloids, which possess a variety of pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammation, immunity regulation, antivirus, and anti-tumor actions. Sophocarpine is able to block HERG K+ channel. It is Na+ channel inward current inhibitor. It activates the AMPK signaling pathway and inhibits the TLR4-downstream pathway.

Bisbenzimide ethoxide is a fluorescent nucleic acid stain useful for DNA labeling in fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. It appears to bind to AT-rich regions containing at least four such basepairs. Bisbenzimide ethoxide seems to bind relatively poorly to nucleotide sequences containing the alternating step TpA. Bisbenzimide ethoxide induced apoptosis in the HL-60 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Endogenous nuclear topoisomerase I activity in HL-60 cells was inhibited by treatment with Bisbenzimide ethoxide.