Pafuramidine or DB289, [2,5-bis-(4-amidinophenyl)furan bis-O-methylamidoxime] is a pro-drug of DB75, [2,5-bis(4-amidinophenyl)furan] also known as furamidine. The biotransformation process of DB289 to DB75 in the human liver consists of three O-demethylation reactions catalyzed by the Cyp4F enzyme subfamily and three N-dehydroxylation reactions catalyzed by cytrochrome b5 and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase. DB289 was studied for therapeutic treatment against human African trypanosomiasis, Pneumocystis pneumonia and malaria. In November 2006, Immtech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted orphan drug designation for pafuramidine (DB289) to treat Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP), a common life-threatening opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS and other immunosuppressed patients. Despite the high efficacy of DB289 in patients, the mechanism of action of DB75 is unknown. The mechanism of antimicrobial activity of diamidine compounds is incompletely understood. They undergo active uptake by purine transporter systems in trypanosomes and their mechanism of action may involve interference with DNA-associated enzymes inhibition of heme crystallization11 or/and collapse of the transmitochondrial membrane potential.

Cipargamin is an experimental synthetic antimalarial molecule belonging to the spiroindolone class. It possesses both the potency (average IC50 of 550 pM against asexual blood-stage P. falciparum) and favorable pharmacokinetics (elimination half-life of ~24 hours in humans) needed for a single-dose cure, a feature that could help slow the onset of parasite resistance and that is not shared by existing, approved antimalarial drugs. KAE609 is also unique in its ability to block transmission to mosquitoes. Cipargamin is a parasite P-type ATPase4 inhibitor. Cipargamin in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of acute, uncomplicated malaria due to plasmodium falciparum monoinfection. Nausea was the most common reported adverse effect. The adverse events were generally mild and did not lead to any discontinuations of the drug.

Fosmidomycin (3-(formylhydroxyamino)-propylphosphonic acid mono-sodium salt, 3-(N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino)-propylphosphonic acid mono-sodium salt, FR-31564) is a potent inhibitor of P. falciparum 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (PfDXR), developed by Albert Schweitzer Hospital for P. falciparum malaria treatment. Fosmidomycin was originally isolated as natural antibiotic from Streptomyces lavendulae. Fosmidomycin is active against a broad range of enterobacteria, but not against Gram-positive organisms or anaerobes. Fosmidomycin was developed as far as an early phase II study for the treatment of urinary tract infections by Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Company (Osaka, Japan) in the early eighties, but these trials have been discontinued. In recent clinical studies, it was shown that fosmidomycin is effective in curing uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in humans. The treatment was well tolerated and resulted in a fast parasite and fever clearance. However, the high rate of recrudescence precludes the use of fosmidomycin as a monotherapy. In drug combination studies, the synergy of fosmidomycin with clindamycin was observed. Clinical studies with a fosmidomycin-clindamycin combination are currently ongoing.

16alpha-Bromoepiandrosterone (HE2000) is a synthetic steroid that limits non-productive inflammation, enhances protective immunity and improves survival in clinical studies of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria and tuberculosis infections. HE 2000 had also shown activity in vitro against cytomegalovirus, polio, hepatitis B and C and influenza virus. 16alpha-Bromoepiandrosterone inhibits glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and cell proliferation. HE 2000 was in phase II development for the Hepatitis B in Malaysia and Singapore, but it was suspended.

Meliltoside is a 2-glucosyloxycinnamic acid found in Dendrobium medicinal plants, Ajuga laxmannii, Ajuga chamaecistus ssp. tomentella, and Teloxys graveolens. It demonstrated moderate antiprotozoal and anti-cancer activity in vitro.

Aporeine (Roemerine) is an aporphine alkaloid that can be isolated from many plants such as Annona senegalensis, Turkish Papaver and Rollinialeptopetala. Aporeine has been reported to exhibit antibacterial activity. It has also been demonstrated to have certain antifungal activity. Aporeine showed selective inhibitory effect on Cox-2.

Plumieride was isolated as one of the major components from the biologically active methanolic extract of the bark of Plumeria bicolor (family Apocynaceae). It possess antifungal and moderate cytotoxic effect, and demonstrates anti-malarial activity in vivo.

Helvolic acid is a mycotoxin with antibacterial activity that shows broad activity against Gram positive and negative bacteria. For example Helvolic acid showed potent inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values of 5.8 and 4.6ug/mL, respectively. It is a steroidal triterpene that is an inhibitor of the protein biosynthesis through archeal EF-2 (elongation factor 2). Shows antioxidant effects. Helvolic acid also showed in vitro antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. It showed inhibitory activity against Candida albicans and Plasmodium falciparum.

Azoxystrobin is the first of a new class of pesticidal compounds called ß-methoxyacrylates, which are derived from the naturally-occurring strobilurins. Azoxystrobin is a broad spectrum fungicide with activity against several diseases on many edible crops and ornamental plants. Some diseases controlled or prevented are rice blast, rusts, downy mildew, powdery mildew, late blight, apple scab, and Septoria. Azoxystrobin is marketed by Syngenta as single AS products under several trade names, the major ones for crop protection being: Amistar, Abound, Priori, Quadris, Dynasty for seed treatments, and Heritage for turf. Azoxystrobin (AZOX), a Qo inhibitor of mitochondrial respiratory complex III, exerts whole-body beneficial effects on the regulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis in high-fat diet-fed mice. Chronic treatment with AZOX reduced body weight and significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet-fed mice. AZOX treatment resulted in decreased triacylglycerol accumulation and down-regulated the expression of genes involved in liver lipogenesis. AZOX increased glucose uptake in L6 myotubes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes and inhibited de novo lipogenesis in HepG2 cells.

The alkaloids febrifugine was originally isolated from the roots of the Chinese shrub Dichroa febrifuga. Febrifugine showed an antimalarial activity 50-100 times higher than that of quinine. Febrifugine acts by causing an increase in NO production during the immunological response - increased production of NO by febrifugine plays an important role in host defense against malaria infection in mice. Also, febrifugine are known to inhibit prolyl-tRNA synthetase of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.