Obacunone, a natural product isolated and purified from the barks of Phellodendron chinense, has cytotoxicity in androgen-dependent human prostate cancer cells. Obacunone may have the potential to prevent estrogen-responsive breast cancer through inhibition of the aromatase enzyme and inflammatory pathways, as well as activation of apoptosis.

Phellodendrine HCl, a natural product isolated and purified from the cortex Phellodendri chinensis with anti-nephritic activity, may be due to its ability to inhibit the proliferation or the migration of macrophages and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the glomeruli. Phellodendrine is against AAPH-induced oxidative stress through regulating the AKT/NF-κB pathway.

Jatrorrhizine is a protoberberine alkaloid isolated from some plant species like Enantia chlorantha. It can inhibit MAO-A and MAO-B noncompetitively with IC50 value of 4μM and 62μM, respectively. Also, it has antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal activity.

D-Tetrahydropalmatine, a natural product isolated and purified from the barks of Phellodendron chinense Schneid, is an organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) inhibitor, and obviously inhibits the uptake of MCT in MDCK-hOCT1 cells and isolated rat primary hepatocytes, and attenuates the viability reduction and LDH release of the primary cultured rat hepatocytes caused by MCT.

Phellamurin, a natural product isolated and purified from the barks of Phellodendron chinense Schneid., inhibits intestinal P-glycoprotein in a dose-dependent manner.

Sinapaldehyde glucoside is a natural product isolated and purified from the barks of Phellodendron amurense.