Damnacanthal is a natural anthraquinone compound with potential anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-malarial, and antiviral effects.Damnacanthal inhibits a variety of protein kinases such as LIMK1 (IC50=0.8 μM), LIMK2 (IC50=1.5 μM), and Lck (IC50=17 nM), and inhibits the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma (SKHep-1) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells.

2-Hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)anthraquinone exhibits quinone reductase (QR)- inducing activity in Hepa lclc7 cells, with the concentration required to double QR activity of 0.94 microM.

1,5,15-Tri-O-methylmorindol has effects against the Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by TPA.