Threonine is an essential amino acid in humans. It is abundant in human plasma particularly in newborns. Severe deficiency of threonine causes neurological dysfunction and lameness in experimental animals. Threonine is an immunostimulant which promotes the growth of thymus gland. It also can probably promote cell immune defense function.

Carnosol has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and apoptosis inducing properties.

Jacoline, jaconine, jacobine, and jacozine, the hepatotoxic alkaloids, are potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic and may pose health hazards to the human consumer.