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.

Silychristin is a flavonolignan isolated from Silybum marianum and has been shown to exhibit inhibitory activities against lipoxygenase and prostaglandin synthetase. It has a role as a metabolite, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, a radical scavenger and a prostaglandin antagonist. It is a secondary alpha-hydroxy ketone, a polyphenol, an aromatic ether, a member of 1-benzofurans and a flavonolignan. Silychristin is a plant growth regulator, is an anti-hepatotoxic agent, is also an inhibitor of horseradish peroxidases and lipoxygenase.