Epichatechin is one of the 4 catechin diastereoisomers. It can be isolated from a number of species of Palmae, as well as Dryas octopetala and guarana seeds. Epicatechin has been widely studied as a potential therapeutic compound in a wide variety of conditions including cancers, diabetes, heart conditions, and neurological conditions. Epicatechin is available as a natural health supplement and marketed for bodybuilding and the treatment of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, immune support, low testosterone, high blood sugar, and improved memory.

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.

Imepitoin (AWD 131–138 or ELB 138; 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-morpholino-imidazolin-2-one) is a new anti-epileptic drug recently approved in the European Union for the treatment of canine idiopathic epilepsy. It was developed from a series of imidazolinones due to its pronounced ant seizure activity in a large variety of rodent models of epileptic seizures, combined with a high tolerability in these models. Imepitoin is a centrally acting antiepileptic substance, which crosses the blood brain barrier without involvement of active transport or active clearance, resulting in immediate equilibrium between plasma and brain. Imepitoin acts as low-affinity partial agonists at the benzodiazepine (BZD) site of the GABAA receptor. Hopefully, that the favorable profile of imepitoin for the treatment of epilepsy in dogs will reactivate the interest in partial BZD site agonists as new treatments for human epilepsy.

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.

Aceneuramic acid (also known as N-Acetylneuraminic Acid, Neu5Ac, the UX 001 tablets) prolonged released had been filed a marketing authorization application with the European Medicines Agency by Ultragenyx in the EU for the treatment of hereditary inclusion body myopathy (HIBM), a rare, progressive muscle-wasting disease. This compound, a muscle protein stimulant, is also in phase II of the clinical trial for the treatment thrombocytopenia. In addition, recently was made studies, which had shown, that existed the significant positive correlation between serum and salivary sialic acid levels in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients.

Honokiol is a biphenolic natural product isolated from the bark and leaves of Magnolia plant spp. Honokiol possesses anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-angiogenic as well as the inhibitory effect on malignant transformation of papillomas to carcinomas in vitro and in vivo animal models without any appreciable toxicity. Honokiol affects multiple signaling pathways, molecular and cellular targets including nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), STAT3, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cell survival signaling, cell cycle, cyclooxygenase and other inflammatory mediators, etc. Honokiol can permeate the blood-brain barrier and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid to increase its bioavailability in neurological tissues. Diverse studies have provided evidence on the neuroprotective effect of honokiol in the central nervous system, due to its potent antioxidant activity, and amelioration of the excitotoxicity mainly related to the blockade of glutamate receptors and reduction in neuroinflammation. Honokiol can attenuate neurotoxicity exerted by abnormally aggregated Abeta in Alzheimer's disease. Honokiol is being developed by Huons as HL tablet for the treatment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver.

Matrine is an active alkaloid, extracted from a traditional Chinese herbs of the Sophora family. Matrine has been reported for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. It was demonstrated that the antinociceptive effects of ( )-matrine was mediated by mu- and kappa-opioid receptors. It could dose-dependently restore the balance of Th17/Treg cytokines and attenuate the cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease rats. Sophora flavescens and its bioactive compound, matrine alleviated caffeine-induced hyperactivity and promoted non-rapid eye movement sleep by activating ventrolateral preoptic nucleus neurons and modulating serotonergic transmission. Clinical trial results indicate, that intramuscular matrine may be an economical, efficacious, safe drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Matrine injection may be used to protect the liver function for patients with primary hepatic carcinoma after trans-artery chemo-embolization (TAE), to relieve the liver cells damage, and to improve the tolerance of TAE, so as to perform the next TAE in time.

Cytisine ( aka baptitoxine and sophorine) is a naturally occurring alkaloid that can be found in several plant genera, such as Laburnum and Cytisus of the family Fabaceae. It has been found to be clinically superior to nicotine replacement therapy for the cessation of smoking. It is available in Eastern Europe under the brand names Tabex and Desmoxan and in Canada under the brand name Cravv. However certain undesirable side effects exist, Cytisine can interfere with breathing and cause death (LD50 i.v., in mice, is about 2 mg/kg) and Cytisine is also teratogenic. Cytosine is an α4β2 nicotinic Acetylcholine receptor agonist. In addition to clinical use as a smoking cessation aid, It has demonstrated anti-depressant effects in mice.

Caffeic acid is an organic compound that is classified as a hydroxycinnamic acid. Caffeic acid is naturally found in many agricultural products, such as fruit, vegetables, wine, olive oil, and coffee, and therefore, significantly present in human diet. Caffeic acid has been reported to have a wide variety of biological activities, including antioxidants, antithrombosis, antihypertensive, antifibrosis, antiviral and anti-tumor properties. Caffeic acid can be effectively employed as a natural antioxidant in various food products such as oils. Caffeic acid exhibits potent anticancer effect in HT-1080 cell line and that it may be used as an anticancer agent. Caffeic acid showed neuroprotective action against oxidative and DNA damage produced in the kindling epilepsy model, although they did not produce antiepileptogenic effect in vivo. Caffeic acid was effective in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia. Detected in clinical trial caffeic acid-related adverse events were: mild nausea and elevation of liver enzymes.

Gamolenic acid also known as gamma-linolenic acid is a natural component of Oenothera biennis L. (Evening Primrose). Gamolenic acid was used for the treatment of breast painand atopic dermatitis in Europe, although now the drug is withdrawn from the market (there is no safety issue associated with the withdrawal of the licences). The mechanism of action of gamolenic acid is connected with its interaction with prostanoid pathway.