Theaflavin is a black tea polyphenol, which possesses a wide variety of pharmacological properties including potent antioxidative, anti-apoptotic, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Theaflavin (TF-1) can bind to, and inhibit the purified 20S proteasome, accompanied by suppression of tumour cell proliferation, suggesting that the tumour proteasome is an important target whose inhibition is at least partially responsible for the anticancer effects of black tea. Theaflavin is a potent inhibitor of interleukin-8 gene expression in vitro. The proximal mechanism of this effect involves, in part, inhibition of IkappaB kinase activation and activator protein-1 pathway. Theaflavin has been known to possess neuroprotective effects against ischemia, Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

SC 26196 is a selective delta6 fatty acid desaturase inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

alpha-Solanine, a naturally occurring steroidal glycoalkaloid in potato sprouts, was found to possess anti-carcinogenic properties, such as inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of tumor cells. Human intake of high doses of alpha-Solanine has led to acute intoxication, in severe cases coma and death. The ratio of a-solanine to a-chaconine may determine the degree and nature of the glycoalkaloid toxicity in potatoes, as the toxicity of the two alkaloids act synergistically. alpha-Solanine can inhibit cholinesterase, disrupt cell membranes, and cause birth defects. Some studies suggests that the toxic mechanism of solanine is caused by the chemical's interaction with mitochondrial membranes. Experiments show that solanine exposure opens the potassium channels of mitochondria, decreasing their membrane potential. This, in turn, leads to K+ being transported from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm, and this increased concentration of K+ in the cytoplasm triggers cell damage and apoptosis.

Azomycin (2-Nitroimidazole) is a natural antimicrobial antibiotic produced by a strain of Nocardia mesenterica, that have been used to combat anaerobic bacterial and parasitic infections. Azomycin and other 2’-nitroimidazoles show anti-ischemic and anti-inflammatory pharmacological properties. Azomycin is cytotoxic and change drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450, NADPH dependent reductase enzymes and cause depletion of tissue oxygen pressure. Azomycin is a prodrug. Unionized Azomycin is selective for anaerobic bacteria due to their ability to intracellularly reduce Azomycin to its active form. This reduced Azomycin then covalently binds to DNA, disrupt its helical structure, inhibiting bacterial nucleic acid synthesis and resulting in bacterial cell death.

Baccatin III is an isolate of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia) and related species. Baccatin III is the precursor to paclitaxel/ taxol. Antileukaemic and antitumor agent, Baccatin III, binds to tubules when they are assembled in the cell and stabilizes the polymerized form of tubules so that they remain assembled even under conditions in which microtubules dissociate into tubulin subunits. Baccatin III is also an inducer of apoptosis and shows antitumor properties in vitro. Baccatin III exerts anti-tumor immunomodulatory activity in very low doses (0.05-0.5mg/kg), although it is regarded as an inactive derivative of paclitaxel. Oral administration of Baccatin III significantly reduced the growth of tumors induced by engrafting BALB/c mice with either 4 T1 mammary carcinoma or CT26 colon cancer cells. Baccatin III reduced tumor progression by inhibiting the accumulation and suppressive function of MDSCs. Baccatin III inhibited cell proliferation of a number of cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic activity exhibited by fungal taxol and Baccatin III involves the same mechanism, dependent on caspase-10 and membrane potential loss of mitochondria, with taxol having far greater cytotoxic potential.

PKI166 is a potent and selective EGFR kinase inhibitor (IC50 = 0.7 nM). PKI166 was tested in phase I clinical trials in patients with advanced solid malignancies, where the recommended dose for further studies was 750 mg once daily for 2 weeks every 4 weeks. In preclinical model, PKI166 was tested in pancreatic, prostate, renal cell, colorectal and other types of cancer. The development of PKI166 was discontinued in 2002 after phase II clinical trials. PKI166 possess antihypertensive properties demonstrated in rat hypertensive chronic kidney disease model.

Estradiol mustard (developmental code name NSC-112259), also known as chlorphenacyl estradiol diester, as well as estradiol 3,17β-bis(4-(bis(2-chloroethyl)amino)phenyl)acetate, is a synthetic, steroidal estrogen and alkylating antineoplastic agent and a nitrogen mustard-coupled estrogen ester that was never marketed.[1] It is selectively distributed into estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tissues such as ER-expressing tumors like those seen in breast and prostate cancers. For this reason, estradiol mustard and other cytostatic-linked estrogens like estramustine phosphate have reduced toxicity relative to non-linked nitrogen mustard alkylating antineoplastic agents. However, they may stimulate breast tumor growth due to their inherent estrogenic activity and are said to be devoid of major therapeutic efficacy in breast cancer,[3] although estramustine phosphate has been approved for and is used (almost exclusively) in the treatment of prostate cancer.

PD-153035 is a potent and selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase EGFR. PD 153035 shows a potent and selective inhibitory effect on tyrosine phosphorylation induced by EGF in Swiss 3T3 fibroblast and A-431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. PD153035 shows dose-dependent growth inhibitory effects in cultures of EGF receptor-overexpressing human cancer cell lines (A431, Difi, DU145, MDA-MB-468, and ME180) and in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines (NPC-TW01, NPC-TW04, and HONE1). Pretreatment of EGFR inhibitors by 24 hours significantly enhances the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin, paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil in NPCTW04 cells. PD153035 abolishes COX-2 expression induced by the PAR(2)-activating peptide 2-furoyl-LIGRLO-NH(2) (2fLI) in Caco-2 colon cancer cells. In A431 human epidermoid tumors grown as xenografts in immunodeficient nude mice, PD153035 at 80 mg/kg i.p. inhibit EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity. PD153035 improves glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and signaling and reduces subclinical inflammation in HFD-fed mice.

Gitoxin is a cardiac glycoside from the Woolly Foxglove (Digitalis lanata), may be studied for its potential cardiac applications similar to those of digoxin. Gitoxin acts as in inhibitor of the sodium and potassium ion channels, interfering with ATPase activity and used in cancer treatment as a growth inhibitor. Gitoxin is a starting material for the synthesis of gitoxin derivatives with activity as cardiac glycosides. Although the cardiotonic activity of gitoxin is known for almost half a century, this digitalis glycoside has never been used in therapy, due to its apparent lack of resorption after administration by oral route.

Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) is widely used to attach a fluorescent label to proteins via the amine group. The isothiocyanate group reacts with amino terminal and primary amines in proteins. It has been used for the labeling of proteins including antibodies and lectins. Isomer I (Fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate) has the thiocyanate group on the 4 carbon of the benzene ring, whereas isomer II (Fluorescein 6-isothiocyanate) has the thiocyanate on the 5 carbon. The two isomers are indistinguishable spectrally, either by wavelength or intensity. Isomer I is more easily isolated in pure form, so is less expensive. This may explain why isomer I is more commonly used for labeling. For many purposes, however, the mixed isomers of FITC will be perfectly suitable. Some FITC conjugates are being investigated for diagnostic purposes. Folate-fluorescein isothiocyanate, or folate-FITC, also identified as EC-17, targets folate receptors over expressed in certain cancers and could help in better identifying the margins of the cancer thereby achieving negative margins.