Scutebarbatine A shows significant antitumor effects on A549 cells in vivo and in vitro via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by up-regulating expressions of caspase-3 and 9, and down-regulating Bcl-2. Scutebarbatine A and barbatine A show a significant ability to protect cells against H2O2 with ED50 values of 5.0 and 16.8 uM, respectively.

Bufotalin is a steroid lactone. It is functionally related to a bufanolide.

Cinobufotalin is a main cardiac toxin in toad, it is a novel anti-HCC agent, it induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in cultured HCC cells through ceramide production. Cinobufotalin is also an effective reversal agent for the multidrug resistance of tumors, it can reverse the adriamycin-resistance in Raji/ADR cells and the expression of P-gp and MRP-1 proteins. Cinobufotalin can promote the dendritic cells(DCs) derived from peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B to mature and effectively enhance its(the DCs') capabilities, therefore the treatment of cinobufotalin may potentiate the antiviral immunity of the patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).

Bruceantin has antiviral activity, it can inhibit pepper mottle virus in pepper; it also shows high antimalarial activity. Bruceantin is an effective agent in controlling the proliferation, viability and migration of multiple myeloma cancer stem cells (CSCs) as well as angiogenesis in vitro. Bruceantin exhibits NF-κB p65 inhibition, and cytotoxic potential against HT-29, HeLa, and HL-60 cells .

Toosendanin (TSN) was used as a digestive tract-parasiticide and agricultural insecticide in ancient China;TSN is a selective presynaptic blocker, a L-type Ca 2+ channel agonist and an effective antibotulismic agent, by interfering with neurotransmitter release through an initial facilitation followed by a subsequent depression. TSN has effects on the growth, cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis and the involved signaling pathway in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.