Malonic acid (propanedioic acid) is the archetypal example of a competitive inhibitor: it acts against succinate dehydrogenase (complex II) in the respiratory electron transport chain. Malonic acid is found to be associated with malonyl-CoA decarboxylase deficiency which is an inborn error of metabolism.

(+)-Isolariciresinol is extracted from Radix Isatidis and shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and can be used in studies about rheumatism.

Tenuifolin has no inherent toxicity to either the transfected or wild type cells at the effective concentrations, it inhibits amyloid-β secretion in vitro.