Gardenin B exhibits superior antiproliferative activity against lung, breast, colon, hepatic and leukaemia cell lines as well as in keratinocytes .Gardenin B-induced cell death in human leukemia cells involves multiple caspases but is independent of the generation of reactive oxygen species. Gardenin B can strongly inhibit biochemical production of nitric oxide (IC50=10.59±0.4 ug/mL). Gardenin B is a tetramethoxyflavone that is tangeretin in which the methoxy group at position 5 has been replaced by a hydroxy group. It has a role as a plant metabolite. It is a monohydroxyflavone and a tetramethoxyflavone. It is functionally related to a tangeretin.

Herbacetin is a pentahydroxyflavone that is kaempferol substituted by a hydroxy group at position 8. It is a natural flavonoid from flaxseed which exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. It has a role as an EC 4.1.1.17 (ornithine decarboxylase) inhibitor, an EC 3.4.22.69 (SARS coronavirus main proteinase) inhibitor, an antineoplastic agent, an antilipemic drug, an angiogenesis inhibitor, an anti-inflammatory agent, an apoptosis inducer and a plant metabolite. Herbacetin, a novel Met inhibitor with a potential utility in cancer therapeutics, suppresses the HGF-induced motility of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by inhibiting c-Met and Akt phosphorylation. Herbacetin exerts an anti-inflammatory effect through suppression of LPS-induced JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways and diminished production of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators. Herbacetin also has a strong ability to scavenge free radical and inhibit oxidative protein damage.