Daidzein, an isoflavonoid phytoestrogenic compound found in soybeans, possesses various biological properties. It may induce apoptosis of choriocarcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, in addition, it promotes proliferation and differentiation in osteoblastic OCT1 cells via activation of the BMP-2/Smads pathway. Daidzein exerts neuroprotective effects through the novel extranuclear GPR30 and the classical transcriptionally acting ERβ.

Glycitein is an orally active flavonoid, which possesses estrogenic activity. It was discovered, that glycitein suppresses osteoclast generation and induces osteoclast apoptosis and exerts bone beneficial effects.

Cerivastatin (BAYCOL®) is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, which is responsible for the conversion of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) to mevalonate, a precursor of sterols, including cholesterol. The inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis by cerivastatin reduces the level of cholesterol in hepatic cells, which stimulates the synthesis of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors, thereby increasing the uptake of cellular LDL particles. The end result of these biochemical processes is a reduction of the plasma cholesterol concentration. On August 8, 2001 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Bayer Pharmaceutical Division voluntarily withdrew BAYCOL® from the U.S. market, due to reports of fatal rhabdomyolysis, a severe adverse reaction from this cholesterol-lowering (lipid-lowering) product. It has also been withdrawn from the Canadian market.

Oxypertine (Equipertine, Forit, Integrin, Lanturil, Lotawin, Opertil) is a neuroleptic drug and was originally introduced as a treatment for schizophrenia in the 1960s. Oxypertine is an indole derivative with general properties similar to those of the phenothiazine, chlorpromazine. It has been given by mouth in the treatment of various psychoses including schizophrenia, mania, and disturbed behaviour, and of severe anxiety. Like reserpine and tetrabenazine, oxypertine depletes catecholamines, though not serotonin, possibly underlying its neuroleptic efficacy. The molecular structure is strongly similar to solypertine and milipertine.

Delapril is a lipophilic nonsulfhydryl angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, which has been shown to exert potent ACE inhibitory activity and is marketed as an antihypertensive drug. Delapril has been shown to exist in solution as a mixture of s-cis and s-trans conformational isomers, as a result of restricted rotation about the amide bond.

Sulpiride is an atypical antipsychotic drug (although some texts have referred to it as a typical antipsychotic) of the benzamide class used mainly in the treatment of psychosis associated with schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, and sometimes used in low dosage to treat anxiety and mild depression. Sulpiride is commonly used in Europe, Russia and Japan. Sulpiride is a selective antagonist at dopamine D2 and D3 receptors. This action dominates in doses exceeding 600 mg daily. In doses of 600 to 1,600 mg sulpiride shows mild sedating and antipsychotic activity. Its antipsychotic potency compared to chlorpromazine is only 0.2 (1/5). In low doses (in particular 50 to 200 mg daily) its prominent feature is antagonism of presynaptic inhibitory dopamine receptors accounting for some antidepressant activity and a stimulating effect. Therefore, it is in these doses used as a second line antidepressant. Racemic and L-sulpiride significantly decreased stimulated serum gastrin concentration, but they did not affect fasting serum gastrin or basal and stimulated gastric acidity. D-sulpiride significantly decreased gastric acid secretion, without affecting serum gastrin levels.

Dexfenfluramine, also marketed under the name Redux, is a serotoninergic anorectic drug. Dexfenfluramine, the dextrorotatory isomer of fenfluramine, is indicated for use in the management of obesity in patients with a body mass index of > or = 30 kg/m2, or > or = 27 kg/m2 in the presence of other risk factors. Unlike fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine is a pure serotonin agonist. Dexfenfluramine increases serotonergic activity by stimulating serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) release into brain synapses, inhibiting its reuptake into presynaptic neurons and by directly stimulating postsynaptic serotonin receptors. Dexfenfluramine reduces blood pressure, percent glycosylated hemoglobin, and concentrations of blood glucose and blood lipids, but these benefits may be indirect. Dexfenfluramine may also be of some value in controlling eating habits in diabetic patients, preventing weight gain after smoking cessation, and treating bulimia, seasonal affective disorder, neuroleptic-induced obesity, and premenstrual syndrome. Dexfenfluramine's most frequent adverse effects are insomnia, diarrhea, and headache; it has also been associated with primary pulmonary hypertension. The drug should not be combined with other serotonergic agonists because of the risk of serotonin syndrome. The recommended dosage is 15 mg twice daily. Dexfenfluramine is effective in the treatment of obesity in selected patients. Because its efficacy is lost after six months of continuous treatment, it should be viewed primarily as an adjunct to diet and exercise. Dexfenfluramine was approved by the FDA in 1996 and has been widely used for the treatment of obesity. However, Dexfenfluramine was removed from the U.S. market in 1997 following reports of valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension.

Acipimox (5-methylpyrazinecarboxylic acid 4-oxide) is a new lipolysis inhibitor that has a distant chemical relationship with nicotinic acid (NA). The anti-lipolytic action of acipimox is mediated through suppression of intracellular cyclic AMP levels, with the subsequent decrease in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity, leading to the reduced association of hormone-sensitive lipase with triacylglycerol substrate in the lipid droplet of adipocytes. Acipimox has been identified as an agonist at G-protein coupled nicotinic acid HM74A and HM74B receptors. Acipimox (Olbetam) is indicated for the treatment as alternative or adjunct treatment to reduce triglyceride levels in patients who have not responded adequately to other treatments such as statin or fibrate treatment for hypertriglyceridaemia (Fredrickson type IV hyperlipoproteinaemia) and hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia (Fredrickson type IIb hyperlipoproteinaemia).

Bezafibrate is a lipid-lowering fibric acid derivative. Bezafibrate directly bound to and activated all three peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes respectively in PPAR binding and transactivation assays. However, from a biochemical point of view, bezafibrate is a PPAR ligand with a relatively low potency. Bezafibrate leads to considerable raising of HDL cholesterol and reduces triglycerides, improves insulin sensitivity and reduces blood glucose level, significantly lowering the incidence of cardiovascular events and new diabetes in patients with features of metabolic syndrome. It is the only pan-PPAR activator with more than a quarter of a century of therapeutic experience with a good safety profile.