NQO1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Moreover, the alkaloid cryptolepinone (29) possessed promising anticancer activity by inducing the quinone reductase activity in mouse hepatoma cells (Hepa 1c1c7) and it also inhibited 7,12-dimethylbenz [a]anthracene-induced preneoplastic lesions in mouse mammary organ culture assay (Jang et al., 2003).