Tizoxanide, the primary active metabolite of the FDA approved drug nitazoxanide, an anti-infective that has been approved for the treatment of diarrhea caused by Giardia lamblia. Tizoxanide, an active metabolite of nitazoxanide in humans, is also an antiparasitic drug of the thiazolide class. It has broad-spectrum antiparasitic and broad-spectrum antiviral properties. Besides, it has being found that Tizoxanide exhibits appreciable antagonist activity for both mGluR1 and mGluR5 (IC50 = 1.8 uM and 1.2 uM, respectively).

Nitisinone, 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC) is a triketone with herbicidal activity. Orfadin® capsules contain nitisinone used in the treatment of hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT-1). Nitisinone is a competitive inhibitor of 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase, an enzyme upstream of fumarylacetoacetase in the tyrosine catabolic pathway. By inhibiting the normal catabolism of tyrosine in patients with HT-1, nitisinone prevents the accumulation of the catabolic intermediates maleylacetoacetate and fumarylacetoacetate. In patients with HT-1, these catabolic intermediates are converted to the toxic metabolites succinylacetone and succinylacetoacetate, which are responsible for the observed liver and kidney toxicity. Succinylacetone can also inhibit the porphyrin synthesis pathway leading to the accumulation of 5-aminolevulinate, a neurotoxin responsible for the porphyric crises characteristic of HT-1. Zeneca Agrochemicals and Zeneca Pharmaceuticals made NTBC available for clinical use and, with the approval of the Swedish Medical Products Agency, a seriously ill child with an acute form of tyrosinaemia type 1 was successfully treated in February 1991. Nitisinone is investigated as a potential treatment for other disorders of tyrosine metabolism including alkaptonuria.

Escitalopram is one of a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Escitalopram, also known by the brand names Lexapro and Cipralex among others, is an antidepressant. The mechanism of antidepressant action of escitalopram, the S-enantiomer of racemic citalopram, is presumed to be linked to potentiation of serotonergic activity in the central nervous system (CNS) resulting from its inhibition of CNS neuronal reuptake of serotonin (5-HT). In vitro and in vivo studies in animals suggest that escitalopram is a highly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with minimal effects on norepinephrine and dopamine neuronal reuptake. Escitalopram is at least 100-fold more potent than the R-enantiomer with respect to inhibition of 5-HT reuptake and inhibition of 5-HT neuronal firing rate. LEXAPRO (escitalopram) is indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder .

Sodium oxybate is the sodium salt of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), an endogenous metabolite of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) a major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Evidence suggests a role for GHB as a neuromodulator/neurotransmitter. Under endogenous conditions and concentrations, and depending on the cell group affected, GHB may increase or decrease neuronal activity by inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters that are co-localised with GHB. After exogenous administration, most of the observed behavioural effects appear to be mediated via the activity of GHB at GABA(B) receptors, as long as the concentration is sufficient to elicit binding, which does not happen at endogenous concentrations. Xyrem (sodium oxybate) oral solution is indicated for the treatment of cataplexy in narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in narcolepsy.

Tegaserod (3‐(5‐methoxy‐1H‐indol‐3ylmethylene)‐N‐pentyl‐carbazimidamide), an aminoguanidine indole derivative of serotonin, is a selective partial agonist highly selective for 5‐HT4 receptor with an affinity constant in the nanomolar range. Tegaserod, by acting as an agonist at neuronal 5-HT4 receptors, triggers the release of further neurotransmitters such as calcitonin gene-related peptide from sensory neurons. The activation of 5-HT4 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract stimulates the peristaltic reflex and intestinal secretion, as well as inhibits visceral sensitivity. In vivo studies showed that tegaserod enhanced basal motor activity and normalized impaired motility throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Zelnorm® (tegaserod maleate) is indicated for the short-term treatment of women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) whose primary bowel symptom is constipation. In addition Zelnorm® is indicated for the treatment of patients less than 65 years of age with chronic idiopathic constipation.

Perflexane is a contrast agent for ultrasound Imaging. The mechanism of action of perflexane is an ultrasound contrast activity. Perflexane is a fluorinated hydrocarbon and gaseous substance used as an imaging contrast agent in the echocardiogram. After administration in microsphere form, perflexane increases ultrasound reflectivity of blood. This leads to an improvement of ultrasound signaling. Perflexane-lipid microspheres (AFO150) is a preparation of perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based micro bubbles it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2002 for clinical use in echocardiograms to opacify the left ventricular chamber and to improve the delineation of the left ventricular endocardial border. However, AFO150 is not currently available for clinical applications.

1,2-DIMYRISTOYL-SN-GLYCERO-3-PHOSPHOCHOLINE (dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine, DMPC) is a synthetic phospholipid used in liposomes and lipid bilayers for the study of biological membranes. DMPC is a frequently studied artificial lipid because it undergoes a phase transition at a convenient temperature. Upon cooling below 23.6°C it undergoes a transition from the liquid crystalline phase to the solid rippled phase, characterized by periodic corrugations of the bilayer.

Squalene is a naturally occurring polyprenyl compound primarily known for its key role as an intermediate in cholesterol synthesis. It received its name because of its occurrence in shark liver oil (Squalus spp.), which contains large quantities and is considered the richest source of squalene. However, it is widely distributed in nature, with reasonable amounts found in olive oil, palm oil, wheat-germ oil, amaranth oil, and rice bran oil. The primary therapeutic use of squalene currently is as an adjunctive therapy in a variety of cancers. Although epidemiological, experimental and animal evidence suggests anti-cancer properties, to date no human trials have been conducted to verify the role this nutrient might have in cancer therapy regimens.