Steroids

Protodioscin has been shown to exhibit multiple biological actions, such as anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-cancer, sexual effects and cardiovascular properties. It appears to possess aphrodisiac activity probably due to its androgen increasing property, it will be useful in developing health food supplement(s) and/or drug(s) against hyperlipidemia.

Gamabufotalin(CS-6), a bufadienolide compound from toad venom, suppresses COX-2 expression through targeting IKKβ/NF-κB signaling pathway in lung cancer cells, suggests that CS-6 exhibits potential use in the treatment of COX-2-mediated diseases such as lung cancer.

Cinobufotalin is a main cardiac toxin in toad, it is a novel anti-HCC agent, it induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in cultured HCC cells through ceramide production. Cinobufotalin is also an effective reversal agent for the multidrug resistance of tumors, it can reverse the adriamycin-resistance in Raji/ADR cells and the expression of P-gp and MRP-1 proteins. Cinobufotalin can promote the dendritic cells(DCs) derived from peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B to mature and effectively enhance its(the DCs') capabilities, therefore the treatment of cinobufotalin may potentiate the antiviral immunity of the patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).

Dietary campest-5-en-3-one (campestenone), an oxidized derivative of campesterol, can activate PPAR alpha, promote energy consumption and significantly reduce visceral fat weight and the concentration of triacylglycerol in serum and liver of rats.