Dictamine (Dectamine) shows anticholinesterase, anti-inflammatory, mutagenic, and has antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. It has the ability to exert cytotoxicity in human cervix, colon, and oral carcinoma cells.

Dictamnine 对模型真菌酿酒酵母具有抗菌活性，最小抑菌浓度(MIC)为64 microg/ml[1]。低浓度下Dictamnine(Dic)诱导S期细胞周期停滞，而高浓度下诱导细胞凋亡，此过程中未涉及线粒体膜电位(Δψmm)的丧失。使用特异性抑制剂z-DQMD-fmk抑制caspase-3并未减弱Dic诱导的凋亡。与仅用Dic处理相比，DHA与Dic的联合处理显著提高了凋亡细胞死亡率。预处理z-DQMD-fmk显著降低了DHA与Dic共同诱导的凋亡，暗示caspase-3在Dic与DHA共同诱导的细胞凋亡中起重要作用。Dic在低浓度下诱导S期细胞周期停滞，在高浓度下诱导细胞凋亡，此过程中未涉及线粒体和caspase，而DHA通过依赖caspase的途径增强了Dic诱导的A549细胞凋亡[2]。

Dictamnine在多种抗炎动物模型中显示出不同的抗炎效果[3]。

Commercial oligonucleotide microarrays were used to determine the global transcriptional response of S. cerevisiae triggered by treatment with dictamnine. We interpreted our microarray data using the hierarchical clustering tool, T-profiler. Several major transcriptional responses were induced by dictamnine. The first was the induced environmental stress response, mainly under the control of the Msn2p and Msn4p transcription factors, and the repressed environmental stress response in genes containing the PAC (RNA polymerase A and C box) and rRPE (ribosomal RNA processing element) motifs. The second was the Upc2p-mediated response involved in lipid biosynthesis. The third comprised the PDR3- and RPN4-mediated responses involved in multidrug resistance (MDR). Finally, the TBP-mediated response was induced with dictamnine treatment. TBP is an essential general transcription factor involved in directing the transcription of genes. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR was performed on selected genes to verify the microarray results. Furthermore, morphological transitions during dictamnine exposure to S. cerevisiae L1190 (MATa/alpha) were examined, using confocal laser microscopy[1].

High performance centrifugal partition chromatography method was used for separation of the essential dictamnine,and anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extracts and dictamnine were investigated by xylene-induced aruical swelling in mice and the abdominal capillary permeability in mice[3].