Magnoflorine possesses high activity as α-glucosidase inhibitor in vitro and in vivo, has antidiabetic potential activity; it also has sedative and anxiolytic effects, probably mediated by a GABAergic mechanism of action. Magnoflorine has protective effects, mediated by some mechanism other than prevention of micelle formation or protection of the erythrocyte membrane against osmotic imbalance. (S)-magnoflorine is an aporphine alkaloid that is (S)-corytuberine in which the nitrogen has been quaternised by an additional methyl group. It has a role as a plant metabolite. It is an aporphine alkaloid and a quaternary ammonium ion. It is functionally related to a (S)-corytuberine.

Plantainoside D shows potent antioxidative effects as those of ascorbic acid, it shows angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory inhibitory activity in vitro with the IC(50) value of 2.17 mM, it also shows inhibitory activity against PKCalpha with the IC50 value (in microM) of 14.8. Plantainoside D protects adriamycin-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cardiac muscle cells via the inhibition of ROS generation and NF-kappaB activation.

Plantamajoside has antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-skin photoaging effects, it has protective activities against Cadmium-induced renal injury. Plantamajoside ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury via suppressing NF-κB and MAPK activation, it can inhibit UVB and advanced glycation end products‐induced MMP-1 Expression by suppressing the MAPK and NF‐ĸB pathways in HaCaT cells, and attenuate the upregulation of receptor for AGEs (RAGE) by glycer-AGEs with UVB irradiation.

Alisol G has hCE2 inhibitory effects.

Alisol C can improve glucose uptake in Hep G2 cells, it may be one of the therapeutic material basis in hypoglycemic activities in A. orientalis. Alisol C,16,23-oxido-alisol B and alisol O in Zexie may cause nephrotoxicity.

Alisol B, a novel inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase pump, induces autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis.Alisol B may be a potential novel therapeutic molecule for bone disorders through targeting the differentiation of osteoclasts as well as their functions. Alisol B also inhibited RANKL-induced expression of NFATc1 and c-Fos, which are key transcription factors for osteoclastogenesis.