Piperine is a simple and pungent alkaloid found in the seeds of black pepper (Piper nigrum). Following its isolation and full characterization, the biological properties of piperine have been extensively studied, and piperine-like derivatives have shown an interesting range of pharmacological activities. Piperine is currently paving its way to become a privileged scaffold for the development of bioactive compounds with therapeutic application in multiple human diseases. In particular, piperine derivatives were shown to modulate the activity of several targets related to neurological disorders, including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, depression and pain related disorders. Moreover, the efflux pump inhibitory ability of piperine and its analogues tackles important drug resistance mechanisms and may improve the clinical efficacy of antibiotic and anticancer drugs. Piperine has been found to have immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, anti-asthmatic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, and anti-amoebic properties.

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.

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.

Metomidate is a non-barbiturate imidazole which produces a sleepy condition of 20-60 minutes duration without substantial analgesia. Since the beginning of 1997 the use of the hypnotic drug metomidate (Hypnodil) in swine is nor longer allowed. This ban caused a substantial therapeutic deficit for anesthesia in swine. 11C-metomidate may be used with positron emission tomography which can differentiate adrenocortical from nonadrenocortical tumors and a suspected adrenocortical cancer may be characterized and staged before surgery. Metomidate hydrochloride is for the sedation and anesthesia of aquarium and non-food fish species. Aquacalm has been granted Indexed status by the FDA for this purpose.

Diisopropylamine (DIPA) is a secondary amine, which is used as a chemical intermediate, and catalyst for the synthesis of pesticides and pharmaceuticals. DIPA is primarily used as a precursor for the herbicides dilate and triallate, as well as certain sulfenamides used in the vulcanization of rubber. It is used for adjusting pH in cosmetic formulations, in colognes, and toilet cleaners. It is associated with tobacco either as a natural component of tobacco, pyrolysis product (in tobacco smoke), or additive for one or more types of tobacco products. When given intravenously to hypertensive patients, DIPA is known as an antihypertensive agent. DIPA exerts its action by lowering arterial blood pressure, reduction of stroke volume and cardiac output. DIPA reduced blood glucose concentrations in fasted mice and in fasted, glucose-loaded, or streptozotocin-diabetic rats. DADA (diisopropylamine dichloroacetate) was identified as an active domain of pangamic acid. DADA is a vasodilator of peripheral and cerebral arterioles. DADA also considered to aid in the detoxification of chemical and metallic metabolites, possibly by the formation of chelate-like compounds whose excretion by the kidneys is facilitated and increased. DADA increases oxygen utilization and cortical glucose uptake.

Sarcosine, also known as N-methylglycine, is a metabolite of glycine. It shares properties with both glycine and D-serine, though its effects are weaker. Sarcosine supplementation can be used to alleviate symptoms of depression and schizophrenia, or improve cognition. It is absorbed more reliably by the body than D-serine, which can also treat similar conditions. Sarcosine is being investigated for its connection to prostate cancer. It may be a biomarker for prostate cancer, which means that if sarcosine levels in the blood are higher than normal, it could be an indicator of prostate cancer. This doesn’t mean that sarcosine itself causes cancer. More research is needed to confirm this relationship. Sarcosine’s main mechanism involves inhibiting a transporter, called GlyT1, which takes up glycine and D-serine into cells. This increases the levels of glycine and D-serine in the body and increases their effects. Sarcosine, a glycine transporter type 1 inhibitor and an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor co-agonist at the glycine binding site, potentiates NMDA receptor function. Sarcosine is an inhibitory glycine receptor agonist.

Sarcosine, also known as N-methylglycine, is a metabolite of glycine. It shares properties with both glycine and D-serine, though its effects are weaker. Sarcosine supplementation can be used to alleviate symptoms of depression and schizophrenia, or improve cognition. It is absorbed more reliably by the body than D-serine, which can also treat similar conditions. Sarcosine is being investigated for its connection to prostate cancer. It may be a biomarker for prostate cancer, which means that if sarcosine levels in the blood are higher than normal, it could be an indicator of prostate cancer. This doesn’t mean that sarcosine itself causes cancer. More research is needed to confirm this relationship. Sarcosine’s main mechanism involves inhibiting a transporter, called GlyT1, which takes up glycine and D-serine into cells. This increases the levels of glycine and D-serine in the body and increases their effects. Sarcosine, a glycine transporter type 1 inhibitor and an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor co-agonist at the glycine binding site, potentiates NMDA receptor function. Sarcosine is an inhibitory glycine receptor agonist.

Velnacrine (9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridin-1-ol) is an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. It was studied for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease however development was discontinued. There has been no research into the use of velnacrine as a cognitive enhancer in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease since 1994. The FDA peripheral and CNS drug advisory board voted unanimously against recommending approval. This review shows the toxic nature of velnacrine, and provides no evidence of efficacy.

Nepaprazole is a proton pump inhibitor of substituted 2-(2-pyridinylmethylsulfinyl)-1H-benzimidazole class evaluated as useful drug for the clinical treatment of peptic ulcer diseases. The effects of the TY-11345 (nepaprazole sodium salt) on gastric mucosal proton pump (H+/K(+)-ATPase) activity, gastric acid secretion and gastro-duodenal lesions were investigated in experimental animals. TY-11345 potently inhibited H+/K(+)-ATPase activity in isolated rabbit gastric mucosal microsomes and the inhibitory effect was enhanced under weak acid conditions. In Ghosh & Schild rats, intravenous injection of TY-11345 significantly inhibited gastric acid secretion stimulated by tetragastrin; the effect of TY-11345 was twice as potent as that of omeprazole. In pylorus ligated rats, TY-11345 inhibited basal gastric acid secretion by both the intraduodenal and oral routes with 9 and 5 times more greater potency than those of omeprazole, respectively. The antisecretory effect of TY-11345 persisted for more than 24 h in pylorus ligated rats. In experimental ulcer models, TY-11345 prevented the formation of water-immersion stress, ethanol or indomethacin-induced gastric lesions and mepirizole-induced duodenal lesions in rats. The antiulcer effects of TY-11345 were 3 to 15 times more potent than those of omeprazole. These results suggested that TY-11345 had potent antisecretory and antiulcer effects which are exerted by suppression of H+/K(+)-ATPase activity in gastric parietal cells. Nepaprazole sodium had been studied in phase II clinical trials for treatment of gastric ulser but this research has been discontinued.

Taurocholic acid is a bile acid and is the product of conjugation of cholic acid with taurine. Its sodium salt is the chief ingredient of the bile of carnivorous animals. Taurocholic acid, as with all bile acids, acts as a detergent to solubilize fats for absorption and is itself absorbed. It is used as a cholagogue and cholerectic (a bile purging agent). Hydrolysis of taurocholic acid yields taurine, a nonessential amino acid. Taurocholic acid is one of the main components of urinary nonsulfated bile acids in biliary atresia. Raised levels of the bile acid taurocholate in the fetal serum in obstetric cholestasis may result in the development of a fetal dysrhythmia and in sudden intra-uterine death. In medical use, it is administered as a cholagogue and choleretic. Taurocholic acid is a potent TGR5 ligand, and in dogs, colonic perfusion with TCA induces PYY secretion. TCA enemas could stimulate GLP-1 and PYY secretion in obese patients with type 2 diabetes receiving the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, sitagliptin. Satiogen Pharmaceuticals is developing rectally administered taurocholic acid, a bile acid, for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.