Harringtonine is a cephalotaxine alkaloid originally found in Cephalotaxus hainanensis Li; it exhibits antiviral and anticancer activities. Harringtonine immobilizes initiated ribosomes, inhibiting protein translation by binding the A site of the 60 S ribosomal subunit and preventing aminoacyl-tRNA binding. Harringtonine inhibits chikungunya virus infection, suppressing replication, RNA production, and viral protein expression. Alone, harringtonine downregulates production of Mcl-1, increases cleavage of PARP, and inhibits cell growth in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells. Additionally, this compound improves the efficacy of co-administered chemotherapeutic compounds, further inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis in leukemia cells. Harringtonine and homoharringtonine isolated from Cephalotaxus hainanesis have exhibited significant antileukemia activity and are widely used in clinics in China.

Sulforaphane is a naturally-occurring phytochemical belonging to the class of isothiocyanates. As the aglycone metabolite of glucosinolate glucoraphanin (sulforaphane glucosinolate), sulforaphane acts as an antioxidant and potent stimulator of endogenous detoxifying enzymes. This agent displays anticarcinogenic properties due to its ability to induce phase II detoxification enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase and quinone reductase, thereby providing protection against certain carcinogens and toxic, reactive oxygen species. Broccoli sprouts contain large amounts of sulforaphane, which is also found in other cruciferous vegetables including cabbage and kale. Sulforaphane is under investigation for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia.

N-Acetyl-α-D-glucosamine (alpha-GlcNAc) is a major component of complex carbohydrates, that has been found in N- and O-glycans and glycolipids. Glycosaminoglycans and the glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor of membrane-bound glycoproteins also contain GlcNAc moieties. GlcNAc is derived from the degradation of glycoconjugates by glycosidases and from nutritional sources. GlcNAc is converted into GlcNAc-6-phosphate by the N-acetylglucosamine kinase. GlcNAc-6-phosphate can enter a catabolic pathway that ultimately leads to the formation of fructose-6-phosphate, or it can enter an anabolic pathway leading to the formation of UDP-GlcNAc.

Phenserine tartrate (phenserine), a phenylcarbamate analog of physostigmine, is a long-acting and centrally active inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In addition to being a potent inhibitor of AChE, it has been demonstrated that phenserine inhibits the formation of beta-APP, the source of neurotoxic beta-amyloid peptide which is a major component of the extraneuronal plaques that pathologically characterize Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Phenserine was developed as a potential therapy for AD by Axonyx, under license from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging. In March 2005, Axonyx suspended patient recruitment for the ongoing Phase III trials of phenserine, after the drug failed to meet the primary endpoints of the first of these trials.

Geraniol is a dietary monoterpene alcohol that is found in the essential oils of aromatic plants. To date, experimental evidence supports the therapeutic or preventive effects of geraniol on different types of cancer, such as breast, lung, colon, prostate, pancreatic, and hepatic cancer, and has revealed the mechanistic basis for its pharmacological actions. In addition, geraniol sensitizes tumor cells to commonly used chemotherapy agents. Geraniol controls a variety of signaling molecules and pathways that represent tumor hallmarks; these actions of geraniol constrain the ability of tumor cells to acquire adaptive resistance against anticancer drugs. It has been shown that geraniol inhibits HMG-CoA reductase in most types of tumor cells, which raises the possibility that the reduced prenylation of small G-proteins, such as Ras or RhoA, accounts for the antitumor effects of geraniol. In addition to its use in various commercial products, including cosmetics and fine fragrances, geraniol exerts a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-ulcer and neuroprotective activities. Geraniol is classified into the generally recognized-as-safe (GRAS) category by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States.

Gepirone (brand name Travivo) is an investigational azapirone antidepressant and anxiolytic drug in development for the treatment of major depressive disorder but has yet to be marketed. Like other azapirones, it acts as a selective partial agonist of the 5-HT1A receptor. Gepirone has been under development in the U.S. in an extended release form (referred to as Gepirone ER). It has been rejected multiple times by the FDA during the drug approval process and Phase III studies evaluating its use in the treatment of MDD were prematurely terminated. These were the initial Phase III studies of gepirone ER in MDD, and the effective dose range had not been determined. In March 2016, the FDA reversed its decision and gave gepirone ER a positive review, clearing the way for the drug to finally gain market approval in the U.S. In addition to its antidepressant and anxiolytic properties, gepirone has been found to improve symptoms of sexual dysfunction in men and women, similarly to the marketed 5-HT1A receptor agonist flibanserin. The pro-sexual effects appear to be independent of its antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. Mechanism of action studies have demonstrated that gepirone possesses a much greater selectivity for 5-HT1A receptors over dopamine D2 receptors. Long-term studies have shown that gepirone has a differential action at presynaptic (agonist) and post-synaptic (partial agonist) 5-HT1A receptors. Treatment with gepirone ER desensitizes presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors, which decreases serotonin autoregulatory inhibition and enhances activation of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors. As a partial agonist gepirone ER acts as an agonist when endogenous serotonin is not present and as an antagonist when endogenous serotonin is present. Overall, gepirone ER increases serotonin production when insufficient amounts are present, and decreases serotonin production when excess amounts are present. Gepirone has been tested in Phase II clinical trial as antidepressant medication for pharmacotherapy for cocaine dependent subjects.

Oliceridine (TRV-130) is a potent μ-opioid receptor agonist. In cell-based assays, TRV130 elicits robust G protein signaling, with potency and efficacy similar to morphine, but with far less β-arrestin recruitment and receptor internalization. In rodents, TRV130 is potently analgesic while causing less gastrointestinal dysfunction and respiratory suppression than morphine at equianalgesic doses. Oliceridine is being developed by Trevena for the first-line treatment of moderate-to-severe acute postoperative pain. Phase III development is underway for the treatment of postoperative pain in the US. Phase II development is underway for the treatment of acute pain in the US.

Allopregnanolone is a neurosteroid metabolite of progesterone. It is an allosteric modulator of inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA-A) receptors on neural stem cells and other cell types in the brain. Allopregnanolone has effects similar to those of other positive allosteric modulators of the GABA action at GABAA receptor such as the benzodiazepines, including anxiolytic, sedative, and anticonvulsant activity. A solution of allopregnanolone, SAGE-547 is an intravenous allosteric modulator of both synaptic and extrasynaptic γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA)receptors. It's believed that allopregnanolone is effective as an anticonvulsant when prolonged seizure activity has become resistant to benzodiazepine treatment. Under the names brexanolone and SAGE-547, allopregnanolone is under development by SAGE Therapeutics as an intravenously administered drug for the treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus, postpartum depression, and essential tremor. Allopregnanolone is in phase III trials for the treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) and postpartum depression.

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA; TCAA) is a chemical used in skin peel formulations. It is more frequently used for lighter skin and is less used on darker skin because of the higher risks of scarring, as well as post-peel dyschromias. Low concentrations, 10-35% is preferred for skin peel formulations so that it only reaches the upper papillary dermis. Topical TCA is an efficacious treatment of internal anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Advantages of TCA for this recurrent disease process include low cost, no requirement for special equipment beyond that for high-resolution anoscopy, and painless application procedure.

Quercetin is a unique bioflavonoid that has been extensively studied by researchers over the past 30 years. Quercetin, the most abundant of the flavonoids (the name comes from the Latin –quercetum, meaning oak forest, quercus oak) consists of 3 rings and 5 hydroxyl groups. Quercetin is a member of the class of flavonoids called flavonoles and forms the backbone for many other flavonoids including the citrus flavonoids like rutin, hesperidins, Naringenin and tangeritin. It is widely distributed in the plant kingdom in rinds and barks. The best described property of Quercetin is its ability to act as antioxidant. Quercetin seems to be the most powerful flavonoids for protecting the body against reactive oxygen species, produced during the normal oxygen metabolism or are induced by exogenous damage [9, 10]. One of the most important mechanisms and the sequence of events by which free radicals interfere with the cellular functions seem to be the lipid peroxidation leading eventually the cell death. To protect this cellular death to happen from reactive oxygen species, living organisms have developed antioxidant line of defense systems [11]. These include enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants that keep in check ROS/RNS level and repair oxidative cellular damage. The major enzymes, constituting the first line of defence, directly involved in the neutralization of ROS/RNS are: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) The second line of defence is represented by radical scavenging antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin A and plant phytochemicals including quercetin that inhibit the oxidation chain initiation and prevent chain propagation. This may also include the termination of a chain by the reaction of two radicals. The repair and de novo enzymes act as the third line of defence by repairing damage and reconstituting membranes. These include lipases, proteases, DNA repair enzymes and transferases. Quercetin is a specific quinone reductase 2 (QR2) inhibitor, an enzyme (along with the human QR1 homolog) which catalyzes metabolism of toxic quinolines. Inhibition of QR2 in plasmodium may potentially cause lethal oxidative stress. The inhibition of antioxidant activity in plasmodium may contribute to killing the malaria causing parasites.