Isoquinoline is an analog of pyridine. Isoquinoline-based alkaloids, such as p-tolyl bisisoquinoline, phthaloyl isoquinoline, and naphthyl isoquinoline, exhibit anticancer activity.Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, exerts anti-inflammatory effects in diabetic mice by downregulating the gene expression ratios of pro-/anti-inflammatory and Th1/Th2 cytokines.Additionally, some isoquinoline-based compounds also possess antidepressant, antibacterial, antimalarial, and anti-HIV activities.

Chebulic acid, a phenolcarboxylic acid compound isolated from Terminalia chebula, has potent anti-oxidant activity, which breaks the cross-links of proteins induced by advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and inhibits the formation of AGEs.

Phenothrin, also called sumithrin, is a synthetic pyrethroid that kills adult fleas and ticks. It has also been used to kill head lice in humans.