DL-Acetylshikonin can effectively inhibit tumor cells, it can be used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma cells expressing hepatitis B virus X protein (HBX) by inducing ER stress , an oncoprotein from hepatitis B virus. Acetylshikonin inhibits the production of eicosanoid, is due to the attenuation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) membrane recruitment via the decrease in [Ca(2+)](i) and to the blockade of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase activity.
Thujopsene, a sesquiterpene found in T. dolabrata, exhibits a wide range of biological activities. It inhibits Na+/K+-ATPase and cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoform CYP2B6 with IC50 values of 25.9 µg/ml and Ki of 0.8 µM, respectively. Additionally, thujopsene demonstrates antimicrobial efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as S. aureus, M. luteus, and S. typhimurium, with MICs ranging from 25-50 µg/ml. It also suppresses antigen-induced β-hexosaminidase release in IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 mast cells (IC50= 25.1 µM) and shows cytotoxicity against A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells with an LC50 of 35.27 µg/ml. Furthermore, thujopsene causes mortality in mites D. farinae and T. putrescentiae, with LC50s of 9.82 and 10.92 µg/cm2, respectively.