Tricaprylin is a triester of glycerin and caprylic acid. It is used as a fragrance ingredient, solvent, and primarily as an emollient in a variety of personal care products, including makeup, creams and lotions, deodorants, sunscreens, hair conditioners, and skin cleansers. Tricaprylin is an ingredient of Axona, a prescription medical food intended for the clinical dietary management of the metabolic processes associated with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Axona provides a simple and safe method to induce hyperketonemia, thus providing an alternative energy substrate to glucose in the brain of patients with AD. After oral administration of Axona, Tricaprylin in Axona is processed by enzymes in the gut, and the resulting medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are absorbed into the blood supply leading to the liver. The MCFAs rapidly pass directly to the liver, where they undergo oxidation to form ketones. Since the liver does not use ketones, they are released into the circulation to be used by nonliver tissues. Some ketones can cross the blood-brain barrier and are then taken up by brain cells. While glucose is the brain’s chief energy source, ketones normally serve as the "backup" energy source. Ketones the body produces after Axona is consumed, act as an alternative energy source for brain cells that have lost their ability to use glucose (sugar) as a result of Alzheimer’s disease.

Lutein is a xanthophyll and one of 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids. Lutein is synthesized only by plants and like other xanthophylls is found in high quantities in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and yellow carrots. In green plants, xanthophylls act to modulate light energy and serve as non-photochemical quenching agents to deal with triplet chlorophyll (an excited form of chlorophyll), which is overproduced at very high light levels, during photosynthesis. Xanthophylls are taken for nutritional supplementation, and also for treating dietary shortage or imbalance. Xanthophylls have antioxidant activity and react with active oxygen species, producing biologically active degradation products. They also can inhibit peroxidation of membrane phospholipids and reduce lipofuscin formation, both of which contribute to their antioxidant properties. Lutein is naturally present in the macula of the human retina. It filters out potentially phototoxic blue light and near-ultraviolet radiation from the macula. The protective effect is due in part, to the reactive oxygen species quenching ability of these carotenoids. Lutein is more stable to decomposition by pro-oxidants than are other carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lycopene. Lutein is abundant in the region surrounding the fovea, and lutein is the predominant pigment at the outermost periphery of the macula. Zeaxanthin, which is fully conjugated (lutein is not), may offer somewhat better protection than lutein against phototoxic damage caused by blue and near-ultraviolet light radiation. Lutein is one of only two carotenoids that have been identified in the human lens, may be protective against age-related increases in lens density and cataract formation. Again, the possible protection afforded by lutein may be accounted for, in part, by its reactive oxygen species scavenging abilities. Carotenoids also provide protection from cancer. One of the mechanisms of this is by increasing the expression of the protein connexin-43, thereby stimulating gap junctional communication and preventing unrestrained cell proliferation. Lutein was found to be present in a concentrated area of the macula, a small area of the retina responsible for central vision. The hypothesis for the natural concentration is that lutein helps protect from oxidative stress and high-energy light. Several studies show that an increase in macula pigmentation decreases the risk for eye diseases such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). There is also epidemiological evidence that increasing lutein and zeaxanthin intake lowers the risk of cataract development. Consumption of more than 2.4 mg of lutein/zeaxanthin daily from foods and supplements was significantly correlated with reduced incidence of nuclear lens opacities, as revealed from data collected during a 13- to 15-year period in the Nutrition and Vision Project (NVP).

Glabridin is an isoflavane found in the root extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Glabridin is considered to be a phytoestrogen and has been associated with numerous biological properties ranging from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-atherogenic effects, to the regulation of energy metabolism, but also including anti-tumorigenic, anti-nephritic, antibacterial and skin-whitening activities. A glabridin-enriched extract is widely used in a cosmetic formulation as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and skin whitening agent. Anti-inflammatory action of glabridin is linked to downregulation of NF-κB, AP-1 and MAPKS signaling. Glabridin-induced attenuation of atherosclerosis is related to a reduction in macrophages-associated oxidation of low-density lipoprotein.

L-serineThe is a non-essential amino acid. L-serine and the products of its metabolism have been recognized not only to be essential for cell proliferation, but also to be necessary for specific functions in the central nervous system. The findings of altered levels of serine and glycine in patients with psychiatric disorders and the severe neurological abnormalities in patients with defects of L-serine synthesis underscore the importance of L-serine in brain development and function. L-serine supplementation is in trials for the treatment of several CNS diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1 and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Lazabemide is a reversible and selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) that was under clinical development against Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and as an aid to smoking cessation. The development of the drug was discontinued due to liver toxicity.

Zanapezil (TAK-147) is a selective reversible acetylcholine (ACh) esterase inhibitor that was designed as a drug for Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment. The development of the drug was discontinued due to a lack of a dose-dependent effect in the trials.

Nicergoline is a semisynthetic ergoline derivative that has been used as a cerebral vasodilator and in peripheral vascular disease. Nicergoline seems to have an action: (i) as an alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, it induces vasodilation and increases arterial blood flow; (ii) it enhances cholinergic and catecholaminergic neurotransmitter function; (iii) it inhibits platelet aggregation; (iv) it promotes metabolic activity, resulting in increased utilization of oxygen and glucose; and (v) it has neurotrophic and antioxidant properties. Nicergoline has been suggested to ameliorate cognitive deficits in cerebrovascular disease.

Ginsenoside B2 is a constituent of Panax ginseng (ginseng) and Panax japonicum (Japanese ginseng). Ginsenoside B2 belongs to the family of Triterpene Glycosides. Many reports demonstrated that Ginsenoside B2 possesses the multifaceted beneficial pharmacological effects on cardiovascular system. Ginsenoside B2 has negative effect on cardiac contractility and autorhythmicity. It causes alternations in cardiac electrophysiological properties, which may account for its antiarrhythmic effect. In addition, Ginsenoside B2 also exerts antiischemic effect and induces angiogenic regeneration. Ginsenoside B2 is an extract from Panax notoginseng, which is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for the treatment of various diseases for years. Ginsenoside B2 has been reported to decrease Aβ in Alzheimer's disease animal models. Ginsenoside B2 is a component of Korean Red Ginseng. The ginsenoside content of the red ginseng is shown as Rg1: 3.3 mg/g, Re (B2): 2.0 mg/g, Rb1: 5.8 mg/g, Rc: 1.7 mg/g, Rb2: 2.3 mg/g, and Rd: 0.4 mg/g, respectively. Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer, Araliaceae) is traditionally used as an important herbal medicine in Far East Asia. Korean Red Ginseng is possibly effective for: • Alzheimer's disease. Evidence shows that taking Panax ginseng root daily for 12 weeks can improve mental performance in people with Alzheimer's disease. • Lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Taking Panax ginseng by mouth seems to improve lung function and some symptoms of COPD. • Mental function. Taking Panax ginseng by mouth might improve abstract thinking, mental arithmetic skills, and reaction times in healthy, middle-aged people but not in young adults. Panax ginseng alone does not seem to improve memory. But there is some evidence that a combination of Panax ginseng and ginkgo leaf extract can improve memory in otherwise healthy people between the ages of 38 and 66. • Erectile dysfunction (ED). Taking Panax ginseng by mouth seems to improve sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction. • Flu. Taking a specific Panax ginseng by mouth appears to reduce the risk of getting a cold or the flu. But, taking Panax ginseng does not seem to reduce flu symptoms or the length of the illness. • Multiple sclerosis-related fatigue. Taking Panax ginseng daily for 3 months reduces feelings of tiredness and improves quality of life in females with MS. • Premature ejaculation. Applying a cream containing Panax ginseng, angelica root, Cistanches deserticola, Zanthoxyl species, torlidis seed, clover flower, asiasari root, cinnamon bark, and toad venom (SS Cream) to the penis one hour before intercourse and washing off immediately before intercourse seems to help prevent premature ejaculation. • Sexual arousal. Taking powdered Korean red ginseng, a specific form of Panax ginseng, seems to improve sexual arousal and satisfaction in postmenopausal women.

Potassium Glycerophosphate is a source of potassium. It is used in the treatment of nutritional deficiencies. Potassium supplements can be an important part of the recovery from or prevention of many different ailments and diseases. The most common of these include helping lower blood pressure and serving as a stroke preventative. Potassium can also be used to lower levels of calcium, to help with certain diseases including Alzheimer’s and Meniere’s. It may also help with some more common issues such as a common allergy, migraines, heavy acne, alcohol abuse, dizziness and confusion, extreme fatigue, recurring constipation, insomnia, anger and aggression, irregular heartbeat and stress. Potassium can either be taken as a supplement by mouth or it can be given intravenously to certain patients who require a faster dosing of the mineral or cannot take it orally.

Propentofylline is a selective inhibitor of adenosine transport and phosphodiesterase. For several years it has been well established in the geriatric therapy of the dog improving hemodynamics in cerebral and peripheral compartments. In human medicine clinical development of this pharmaceutical has already entered an advanced stage for the long-term therapy of patients with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. In the brains of senile dogs and in human patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease comparable neuropathological findings can be made. In experimental models of vascular dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease it improves cognitive functions, inhibits inflammatory processes as well as excessive activation of microglia, formation of free radicals, cytocines and abnormal amyloid precursor proteins (APP). It stimulates synthesis and liberation of nerve growth factor (NGF) and reduces ischemic damage to the brain. In clinical studies in humans it improved cognitive functions as well as global functions and the ability to cope with tasks of routine daily life in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Possible mechanisms of action include a direct glial modulation to decrease a reactive phenotype, decrease glial production and release of damaging proinflammatory factors, and enhancement of astrocyte-mediated glutamate clearance. Net effects of propentofylline in vivo will be dependent on the concentrations of propentofylline and adenosine available and on the subtypes of adenosine receptors, phosphodiesterases, and nucleoside transporters present. In March, 2000 Aventis Pharma, announced that was discontinuing development of propentofylline as a possible treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The decision was a result of the company's portfolio review process which is intended to ensure that resources are devoted only to projects with a high potential for success.