Nigericin is an antibiotic derived from Streptomyces “Nig-1”. It is the potassium ionophore and H+/K+ exchanger. It is shown to be highly effective as an ionophore for Pb(2+). Thus, nigericin may be more useful than monensin in the treatment of Pb intoxication. Nigericin induced mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization. Malignant characteristics of human glioma cells were markedly suppressed by nigericin treatment in vivo. Nigericin induces cell death and promotes the maturation and release of IL-1beta in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-primed monocytes and macrophages. The mechanism of induction of apoptosis by nigericin is most probably to decrease intracellular pH.

Dibenzoylmethane (DBM), a minor ingredient in licorice, is a calcium chelator that binds calcium through the β-diketone moiety, and it has been found to increase intracellular calcium concentrations in skeletal muscle cells. Intracellular calcium regulates the binding of Nrf2 to the HO-1 enhancer region. Both Nrf2 and HO-1 have been proposed as potential drug targets to prevent or treat liver disease. Thus was suggested DBM could be a lead/candidate for prevention or treatment of liver diseases. In addition, was found, that dibenzoylmethane inhibits mammary tumorigenesis, lymphomas, and leukemias in mice and it can prevent the formation of tumor-inducing DNA adducts.