Artenimol (dihydroartemisinin) is a derivate of antimalarial compound artemisinin. Artenimol (dihydroartemisinin) is able to reach high concentrations within the parasitized erythrocytes. Its endoperoxide bridge is thought to be essential for its antimalarial activity, causing free-radical damage to parasite membrane systems including: • Inhibition of falciparum sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase, • Interference with mitochondrial electron transport • Interference with parasite transport proteins • Disruption of parasite mitochondrial function. Dihydroartemisinin in combination with piperaquine tetraphosphate (Eurartesim, EMA-approved in 2011) is indicated for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The formulation meets WHO recommendations, which advise combination treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria to reduce the risk of resistance development, with artemisinin-based preparations regarded as the ‘policy standard’. However, experimental testing demonstrates that, due to its intrinsic chemical instability, dihydroartemisinin is not suitable to be used in pharmaceutical formulations. In addition, data show that the currently available dihydroartemisinin preparations fail to meet the internationally accepted stability requirements.

1-(2-DEOXY-2-FLUORO-β-D-ARABINOFURANOSYL)URACIL (FAU) is a thymidine analog. In several cancer cell lines, FAU was phosphorylated intracellularly to its monophosphate, 1-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro--Darabinofuranosyl) uracil monophosphate (FAUMP), by thymidine kinase and methylated in the 5-position by thymidylate synthase to form the product, 1-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro- -D-arabinofuranosyl) 5-methyluracil monophosphate (FMAUMP). FAU strongly inhibits the growth of tumor cells with high thymidylate synthase activity. FAU had been in phase I clinical trial for the treatment of advanced solid tumors.

3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid is a component of Brazilian green propolis water extract, green coffee beans and other plants. It was reported to have antivirus activity against Influenza A Virus. The compound was also shown to inhibit AngII-induced rVSMC proliferation and migration, probably through downregulating the Akt, JNK and part of the ERK1/2 pathways, in which the anti-oxidant property plays an important role. 3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid possesses a high binding affinity to plasma proteins, making it less preferable as a drug candidate as this characteristic would affect diffusion or transport across cell membranes, limiting pharmacological actions. 3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid is also a selective inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase.

Shikonin is a major naphthoquinone compound found in the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and exhibits powerful anticancer activities for various cancer cells. Shikonin and its derivatives are characterized by a wide spectrum of antibacterial activities: high antibacterial activity towards Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus et al.), a stable fungicidal effect towards Candida and Trichosporon fungi. Shikonin normalizes the production of the key mediators of inflammation IL-1 and IL-2, IFN-γ, reduces vascular permeability in the focus of inflammation, exhibiting a marked anti-inflammatory effect. Combined therapy with applications of a bio-polymeric film with shikonin and its esters (naphthoquinone derivatives) led to an obvious improvement of the clinical parameters and reduced the morphological signs of the buccal mucosal lesions. The drug was well tolerated by all patients and no side effects were recorded. Shikonin, as a naturally occurring, low-molecular-weight pan-chemokine receptor inhibitor, constitutes a basis for the development of novel anti-HIV therapeutic agents.

Thymoctonan (also known as Thymic humoral factor γ2 ) is an octapeptide thymic hormone patented by Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. as an immunoregulatory agent. In preclinical models, Thymoctonan exerts potent anti-tumor activity in mice and significantly increases the specific cytotoxic response of immune spleen cells. In addition, Thymoctonan treatment improved the competence of immune spleen cells in adoptive immunotherapy when performed in combination with chemotherapy by melphalan. Besides that Thymoctonan enhancing the anti-viral potential of murine cytomegalovirus immune spleen cells. In fatal murine cytomegalovirus infection model, daily injections of Thymoctonan- enhanced murine cytomegalovirus immune spleen cells prevented the development of a fatal disease in 93% of the recipient mice.