Methylswertianin is an active constituent in Swertia punicea Hemsl, with anti-diabetic effect. Methylswertianincan abates type-2 diabetes, likely via the improvement of insulin resistance (IR).

Dieugenol is a neolignan that has been found in N. leucantha and has antioxidative and antiprotozoal activities. It inhibits the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and scavenges superoxide anions, but not hydroxyl radicals, in cell-free assays. It has anti-trypanosomal activity against T. cruzi amastigotes and trypomastigotes (IC50s=15.1 and 11.5 μM, respectively) but is cytotoxic to NCTC L-929 fibroblasts with a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) value of 58.2 μM.2 Dieugenol (15 μM) disrupts the integrity of the T. cruzi trypomastigote plasma membrane but does not induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in trypomastigotes or LPS-stimulated and unstimulated isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages.

R-IMPP is an inhibitor of PCSK9 translation. R-IMPP stimulates uptake of LDL-C in hepatoma cells by increasing LDL-R levels, without altering levels of secreted transferrin.