Lucidin and its derivatives are genotoxic, it is mutagenic at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase gene locus.

Senecionine N-oxide and senecionine have hepatotoxic activity, no antifertility effects in MeOH extract-treated hamsters. Senecionine N-oxide is a tertiary amine oxide. It is functionally related to a senecionine.

Afzelin has several cellular activities such as DNA-protective, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory as well as UV-absorbing activity and may protect human skin from UVB-induced damage by a combination of UV-absorbing and cellular activities. Afzelin has potenial anti-cancer activity against prostate cancer, the activity is due to inhibition of LIM domain kinase 021 expression, it can inhibit the proliferation of LNCaP and PC302cells, and block the cell cycle in the G002phase. Afzelin can attenuate asthma phenotypes is based on reduction of Th2 cytokine via inhibition of GATA-binding protein 3 transcription factor, which is the master regulator of Th2 cytokine differentiation and production. Afzelin is a glycosyloxyflavone that is kaempferol attached to an alpha-L-rhamnosyl residue at position 3 via a glycosidic linkage. It has a role as an antibacterial agent, an anti-inflammatory agent and a plant metabolite. It is a trihydroxyflavone, a glycosyloxyflavone and a monosaccharide derivative. It is functionally related to a kaempferol. It is a conjugate acid of an afzelin(1-).

Cephaeline is a pyridoisoquinoline comprising emetam having a hydroxy group at the 6'-position and methoxy substituents at the 7'-, 10- and 11-positions. It is a conjugate base of a cephaeline(2+). It derives from a hydride of an emetan. Cephaeline was highly active against protected primary CLL cells (relative IC50's 35 nM ) and acted by repressing HIF-1α and disturbing intracellular redox homeostasis.

Dihydromethysticin non-competitively inhibits the specific binding of [3H]-batrachotoxinin-A 20-alpha-benzoate to receptor site 2 of voltage-gated Na+ channels.The induction of CYP3A23 by dihydromethysticin and desmethoxyyangonin involves transcription activation, probably through a pregnane X receptor (PXR).-independent or PXR-involved indirect mechanism. Dihydromethysticin is an aromatic ether and a member of 2-pyranones.