beta-Sitosterol, epilupeo, amarolide-11-acetate, amarolide-2,11-diacetate, ailanthinone and glaucarubinone have been isolated from S. versicolor. The cytotoxic and antileukemic activities of extracts of this plant are due chiefly to glaucarubinone.
Extracts prepared from Simarouba amara fruits collected in Panama have been found to be active against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and against Plasmodium berghei in mice. Four active quassinoids have been identified as ailanthinone, 2'-acetylglaucarubinone, glaucarubinone and holacanthone.