Dehydroevodiamine hydrochloride has novel anti-cholinesterase and antiamnesic activities, it inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity in a dose-dependent and non-competitive manner(IC50=37.8 microM); its potent antiamnesic effect is thought to be due to the combined effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibition and the known cerebral blood flow enhancement. Dehydroevodiamine hydrochloride (0.1-0.3 mg/kg iv) can increase the cerebral blood flow recorded from the surface of the supra-sylvian gyrus in anesthetized cats, suggest that it selectively increases cerebral blood flow.

(-)-Guaiol is a biocatalyst. Guaiol has insecticidal activity.

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.