An alkaloid with diverse biological activities; inhibits LPS-induced splenocyte proliferation and release of IL-1 and IL-6 from mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro; inhibits the development of LPS-induced hepatitis in a dose-dependent manner in mice; reduces production of HBsAG and HBeAG in vitro (IC50s = 0.75 and 3.35 mg/ml, respectively); inhibits viral replication in a duck model of hepatitis B; inhibits angiotension II-induced hyperplastic growth of cardiac fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner; inhibits proliferation of melanoma, breast, and colon cancer cells (IC50s = 0.769-2.758 mg/ml),