Berberrubine has antitumor activity. Berberrubine dose-dependently inhibits IL-8 and MCP-1 protein levels in the media and mRNA expression of the cells stimulated with IL-1beta or TNF-alpha.

Melanocortin (MC) 3-MSH (Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone) is believed to signal through the MC 3 receptor. It induces a sustained increase in intracellular free calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) in a subpopulation of pituitary cells. Most of the cells responding to 3-MSH express more than one pituitary hormone mRNA. The effect of 3-MSH is blocked by SHU9119, a MC3R and MC4R antagonist, in only 50% of the responsive cells, suggesting that in half of these cells the mediating receptor is not the MC3R. Low picomolar doses of 3-MSH increase [Ca2+]i in the growth hormone (GH)- and prolactin (PRL)-secreting GH3 cell line.

Cyclo(L-Ala-L-Pro) and cyclo(L-Val-L-Pro) inhibit aflatoxin production of Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus in liquid medium at concentrations of several hundred uM without affecting fungal growth.