Benzethonium chloride, also known as hyamine, is a synthetic quaternary ammonium salt. It has surfactant, antiseptic, and anti-infective properties and it is used as a topical antimicrobial agent in first aid antiseptics. It is also found in cosmetics and toiletries such as mouthwashes, anti-itch ointments, and antibacterial moist towelettes. Benzethonium chloride exhibits a broad spectrum of microbiocidal activity against bacteria, fungi, mold and viruses. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifies that the safe and effective concentrations for benzethonium chloride are 0.1-0.2% in first aid products. Aqueous solutions of benzethonium chloride are not absorbed through the skin. It is not approved in the US or Europe for use as a food additive. Being a quaternary ammonium salt, it is more toxic than negatively charged surfactants. However, in a two-year study on rats, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity. Benzethonium chloride was characterized as a novel anticancer compound possessing both in vitro and in vivo efficacy justifying further investigation.

Menadione, a drug belong to class of Vitamin K, is prescribed for the treatment of hemorrhage, vitamin K deficiency, moderate to severe forms of hypoprothrombinaemia in adults and children. Menadione is a synthetic form of vitamin K, a lipid-soluble vitamin. Vitamin K is a vital cofactor for the biosynthesis of prothrombin, factor VII, IX, X, protein C and protein S. Menadione supports the functions of osteocalcin. Large doses of menadione have been reported to cause adverse outcomes including hemolytic anemia due to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, neonatal brain or liver damage, or neonatal death in some rare cases.

Sulfathiazole is a short-acting sulfonamide with properties similar to those of sulfamethoxazole. It is now rarely used systemically due to its toxicity. Sulfathiazole is used with other sulfonamides, usually sulfabenzamide and sulfacetamide, in preparations for the topical treatment of vaginal infections and is also used with other drugs in the treatment of skin infections. Sulfathiazole sodium has been applied topically with other drugs in the treatment of eye infections. Sulfathiazole interferes with nucleic acid synthesis in microorganisms by blocking the conversion of p-aminobenzoic acid to the coenzyme dihydrofolic acid.It has properties similar to sulfamethoxazole.

Benzaldehyde is the simplest and possibly the most industrially useful member of the family of aromatic aldehydes. Benzaldehyde exists in nature, primarily in combined forms such as a glycoside in almond, apricot, cherry, and peach seeds. The characteristic benzaldehyde odor of oil of bitter almond occurs because of trace amounts of free benzaldehyde formed by hydrolysis of the glycoside amygdalin. Benzaldehyde is a versatile intermediate because of its reactive aldehyde hydrogen, its carbonyl group, and the benzene ring. Benzaldehyde is formed from phenylpyruvic acid, derived by the aminotransferase activity on phenylalanine, in the presence of high levels of Mn2+, and contributes to the generation of flavor compound during cheese ripening. Benzaldehyde is a synthetic flavoring substance, sanctioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for foods. Benzaldehyde is also recognized as safe for use as a bee repellant in the harvesting of honey. Benzaldehyde's most important use is in organic synthesis, where it is the raw material utilized to produce various aldehydes. Because Benzaldehyde rapidly metabolizes to Benzoic Acid in the skin, the available dermal irritation and sensitization data demonstrating no adverse reactions to Benzoic Acid were considered supportive of the safety of Benzaldehyde.

Melatonin (5-methoxy N-acetyltryptamine) is a hormone synthesized and released from the pineal gland at night, which acts on specific high affinity G-protein coupled receptors to regulate various aspects of physiology and behaviour, including circadian and seasonal responses, and some retinal, cardiovascular and immunological functions. Melatonin is also made synthetically and available without a prescription as an over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplement in the U.S. Melatonin supplementation has many uses, however, it has been widely studied for treatment of jet lag and sleep disorders. Parents may consider using melatonin to help their child who has a trouble falling asleep. A medical professional should always evaluate insomnia or other sleeping disorders in children. Additionally, melatonin has been shown to protect against oxidative stress in various, highly divergent experimental systems. There are many reasons for its remarkable protective potential. In mammals, melatonin binds to a number of receptor subtypes including high-affinity (MT1 and MT2) and low-affinity (MT3, nuclear orphan receptors) binding sites, which are distributed throughout the central nervous system and periphery.

Noscapine (also known as Narcotine, Nectodon, Nospen, Anarcotine and (archaic) Opiane) is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from plants of the poppy family, without painkilling properties. This agent is primarily used for its antitussive (cough-suppressing) effects. Noscapine is often used as an antitussive medication. A 2012 Dutch guideline, however, does not recommend its use for coughing. Noscapine can increase the effects of centrally sedating substances such as alcohol and hypnotics. Noscapine should not be taken in conjunction with warfarin as the anticoagulant effects of warfarin may be increased. Noscapine, and its synthetic derivatives called noscapinoids, are known to interact with microtubules and inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Mechanisms for its antitussive action are unknown, although animal studies have suggested central nervous system as a site of action. Furthermore, noscapine causes apoptosis in many cell types and has potent antitumor activity against solid murine lymphoid tumors (even when the drug was administered orally) and against human breast and bladder tumors implanted in nude mice. Because noscapine is water-soluble and absorbed after oral administration, its chemotherapeutic potential in human cancer merits thorough evaluation. Antifibrotic effect of noscapine based on novel mechanism, which it shows through EP2 prostaglandin E2 receptor-mediated activation of protein kinase A.

Antipyrine is an analgesic and antipyretic that has been given by mouth and as ear drops. It is often used in testing the effects of other drugs or diseases on drug-metabolizing enzymes in the liver. It inhibits cyclooxygenases and shows little anti-inflammatory activity. Like many old and approved substances after almost 100 years of use, antipyrine has been associated with some serious side effects, namely agranulocytosis and shock reactions.

Tribromsalan (trade name Temasept IV) is a member of brominated salicylanilides chemical family. Was initially registered in 1964 manufactured by Hexcel Corporation, Sherwin Williams Chemicals. It is a pesticide type with antimicrobial and preservative features found its application in hard surfaces, laundry, textiles, and manufactured products. Types of tribromsalan formulations include solid, solutions, and sprays and its usual carrier is soap. Limited exposure is possible based on the registered uses of these products as disinfectants, laundry additives, textile preservatives, and manufactured products and do not include direct application to a food or feed crop. In 1974 FDA directed the removal of tribromsalan drug products from the market because it was found to make skin extrasensitive to light. For the same reason it was forbidden in Europe since the 1970s. Since 1982 the OTC topical antimicrobial drug products rulemaking was reopened and included tribromsalan in a list of antimicrobial OTC Drug Products. At present tribromsalan is considered an antiseptic active ingredient eligible for the OTC use as a consumer antiseptic hand and body wash drug product. It was reported that tribromsalan, inhibits NF-kappaB signaling via inhibition of IkappaBalpha phosphorylation with IC50 of 7.9 uM. This finding provides new information on activities and mechanisms of action that may suggest mechanisms of potential novel applications in cancer treatment of such drugs as tribromsalan.

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.