Goitrin is a potent antithyroid compound, it is a moderate inhibitor of purified bovine adrenal dopamine beta-hydroxylase,leads to a depression of brain norepinephrine and to an elevation of heart and adrenal dopamine. Goitrin is responsible for the induction of glutathione S-transferases. 5-ethenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione is a member of the class of oxazolidines that is 1,3-oxazolidine substituted by sulfanylidene and ethenyl groups at positions 2 and 5, respectively. It is a member of oxazolidines and an olefinic compound.

Swainsonine is an indolizidine alkaloid isolated from the plant Swainsona canescens with three hydroxy substituents at positions 1, 2 and 8. It has a role as an antineoplastic agent, an immunological adjuvant, an EC 3.2.1.114 (mannosyl-oligosaccharide 1,3-1,6-alpha-mannosidase) inhibitor and a plant metabolite.

Plantagoside is a potent inhibitor of the Maillard reaction, it also can inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products in proteins in physiological conditions and inhibit protein cross-linking glycation. It is also a specific non-competitive inhibitor for jack bean alpha-mannosidase (IC50 at 5 microM). Plantagoside suppresses antibody response to sheep red blood cells and concanavalin A induced lymphocyte proliferation which was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Plantagoside has potential therapeutic applications in the prevention of diabetic complications. Plantagoside is a flavanone glycoside that is (2S)-flavanone substituted by hydroxy groups at positions 5, 7, 4' and 5' and a beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy group at position 3' respectively. It has a role as a plant metabolite. It is a member of 4'-hydroxyflavanones, a beta-D-glucoside, a tetrahydroxyflavanone, a monosaccharide derivative and a flavanone glycoside. It is functionally related to a (2S)-flavanone.