Berberine, an alkaloid isolated from Rhizoma Coptidis, is known to have a wide array of therapeutic effects including antimicrobial, antineoplastic, and hepatoprotective effects. It is found in several plants including European barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree tumeric. Berberine seems to slightly reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Berberine might lower blood pressure. Berberine is possibly safe for most adults for short-term use when taken by mouth or applied to the skin.

Sesamin is the most prominent lignan compound found in sesame seeds, one of the two highest sources of lignans in the human diet (the other being flax). Sesamin is catered to be a nutritional supplement that confers antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects (if touting its health properties) or possibly being an estrogen receptor modulator and fat burner (if targeting atheltes or persons wishing to lose weight). Sesamin has a few mechanisms, and when looking at it holistically it can be summed up as a fatty acid metabolism modifier. It appears to inhibit an enzyme known as delta-5-desaturase (Δ5-desaturase) which is a rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid metabolism; inhibiting this enzyme results in lower levels of both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, one of the two fish oil fatty acids) as well as arachidonic acid, and this mechanism appears to be relevant following oral ingestion. The other main mechanism is inhibiting a process known as Tocopherol-ω-hydroxylation, which is the rate limiting step in the metabolism of Vitamin E; by inhibiting this enzyme, sesamin causes a relative increase of vitamin E in the body but particularly those of the gamma subset (γ-tocopherol and γ-tocotrienol) and this mechanism has also been confirmed to be active following oral ingestion. Sesamin is a potent and specific inhibitor of delta 5 desaturase in polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. Sesamin inhibits a particular CYP3A enzymes that is involved in vitamin E metabolism, where the enzyme initially ω-hydroxylates vitamin E (required step) and then the rest of vitamin E is subject to fat oxidation. By inhibiting this step, sesamin causes an increase in circulating and organ concentrations of vitamin E. Sesamin is thought to have PPARα activating potential in the liver, but it is uncertain how much practical relevance this has in humans due to this being a mechanism that differs between species.

Dimethyl succinate is the inactive analog of dimethyl fumarate. Dimethyl succinate has a pleasant, ethereal, winey odor and a fruity, winey, and burning flavor. It is used in foods as a flavoring ingredient. Dimethyl succinate was found at increased concentrations in the culture medium of the lung cancer cell line A549 and in the urine of mice implanted with A549 cells. Dimethyl succinate could be used to prolong the insulinotropic action of GLP-1 in the treatment of type-2 diabetes and it may represent a novel therapeutic approach in endotoxemia and multiple-organ failure.

Uric acid, generated from the metabolism of purines, has proven and emerging roles in human disease. Humans produce large quantities of uric acid. Excess serum accumulation of uric acid can lead to a type of arthritis known as gout. Hyperuricemia may increase risk factors for cardiovascular disease. High serum uric acid was associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes and other diseases.

Palmitoleic acid, commonly known as omega-7, is a rare monounsatured fatty acid, which was generally reported to benefit the skin in promoting epithelialisation, and certain gynaecological problems (vaginal mycoses). Until now, sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), a shrub widely found in Europe and Asia, and macadamia nuts have been the principal sources. Palmitoleic acid (PMA) has anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities. Palmitoleic acid is a gap junction uncoupler.

Methylinositol is a natural product in the family of inositols. It is found in many foods as well as pine tree bark. Methylinositol is found naturally in many foods and is commercially available as an approved food supplement. Methylinositol can mediate insulin action to improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially in patients with insulin resistance. It plays a positive role in regulating insulin-mediated glucose uptake in the liver through translocation and activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The compound also modulates gamma-secretase to reduce A-betta production while sparing cleavage of the gamma-secretase substrate Notch. Methylinositol improves cognitive function and memory deficits in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology. Methylinositol was will tolerated in the population of AD subjects of varying age and severity. No serious adverse effects were detected in clinical trials. Many plant-derived compounds have excellent therapeutic potential against various human ailments. It was shown, that methylinositol mitigates tumor growth by modulating interleukins and hormones and induces apoptosis in rat breast carcinogenesis through inhibition of NF-κB.

Resveratrol, a natural non-flavonoid polyphenol, exhibits a wide range of beneficial properties as an anticancer agent, a platelet anti-aggregation agent, and an antioxidant, as well as its anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic. This compound is in phase III clinical trials in combination with carboxymethyl-β-glucan for improving nasal symptoms in children with pollen-induced allergic rhinitis. Also in phase III clinical trial in the treatment of painful knee osteoarthritis and in type 2 diabetic patients. It has been demonstrated that resveratrol may prevent type 2 diabetic by targeting Sirtuin type 1 (SIRT1), indicating that SIRT1 may be a novel therapeutic target for diabetes prevention.

Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, P5P) is a coenzyme, the active form of vitamin B6. Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) is used as a cofactor for a wide range of enzymes including mitochondrial cysteine desulfurase, cystathionine γ-synthase (CGS), ornithine 4,5-aminomutase (OAM), and d-serine dehydratase. The versatility of PLP arises from its ability to covalently bind the substrate, and then to act as an electrophilic catalyst, thereby stabilizing different types of carbanionic reaction intermediates. PLP acts as a coenzyme in all transamination reactions, in various beta-elimination reactions, in the condensation reaction in heme synthesis.

Thioctic acid also known as alpha-lipoic acid is a dietary supplement, which is a common ingredient in OTC (over-the-counter) multivitamin formulas and anti-aging supplements. Thioctic acid exists in both R- and S-enantiomeric forms, however, only R-form is essential as a cofactor in biological systems (the acid is coupled via an amide linkage to a lysine of several multienzyme complexes, such as the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, the glycine cleavage system and the branched-chain oxo acid dehydrogenase complex). Most commercially available thioctic acid supplements are a mixture of both R and S enantiomers or R-form alone. Several studies have shown that the acid has beneficial effect on diabetes complications, cancer, glaucome, liver disease, etc. The mechanisms of thioctic acid is related to its antioxidant properties, metal chelator properties, however, those mechanisms need futher confirmation.

Erythritol is a four carbon sugar that is found in algae, fungi, and lichens. It is twice as sweet as sucrose and has been approved by the United States and EU Food and Drug Administrations for use as a low-calorie sweetener. Erythritol is well tolerated and elicits no toxicological effects. It is rapidly absorbed and quantitatively excreted without metabolic change. Erythritol has been investigated as a food supplement to treat Endothelial Function related to Type II diabetes. It has also been studied for the prevention of gingivitis and carries.