alpha-Asarone is a naturally occuring inhibitor of both HMG-CoA reductase (IC50 = 3 mM) and certain isoforms of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of enzymes (IC50 = 55.2 and 65.2 μg/ml for CYP2D6 and CYP3A4, respectively), with neuroprotective, anti-oxidative, anticonvulsive and cognitive enhancing action.