7',8'-Dihydroobolactone can inhibit Trypanosoma brucei brucei with an IC(50) of 2.8 microM.

Cryptomoscatone D2 is a highly efficacious inhibitor of the G(2) checkpoint, and G(2) checkpoint inhibitors can force cells arrested in G(2) phase by DNA damage to enter mitosis.

Z-Cryptofolione and Cryptomoscatone D2 as highly efficacious inhibitors of the G(2) checkpoint, G(2) checkpoint inhibitors can force cells arrested in G(2) phase by DNA damage to enter mitosis. Cryptofolione shows moderate cytotoxicity in both macrophages and T. cruzi amastigotes, it also displays a mild inhibitory effect on the promastigote form of Leishmania spp.

Obolactone displays significant activity in vitro cytotoxic assays against the KB cell line.