Beclometasone dipropionate or beclomethasone dipropionate is sold under the brand name Qvar among others. Beclomethasone dipropionate is a corticosteroid demonstrating potent anti-inflammatory activity. The precise mechanism of corticosteroid action on asthma is not known. Corticosteroids have been shown to have multiple anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting both inflammatory cells (e.g., mast cells, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils) and release of inflammatory mediators (e.g., histamine, eicosanoids, leukotrienes, and cytokines). These anti-inflammatory actions of corticosteroids may contribute to their efficacy in asthma. Beclomethasone dipropionate is a prodrug that is rapidly activated by hydrolysis to the active monoester, 17 monopropionate (17-BMP). Beclomethasone 17 monopropionate has been shown in vitro to exhibit a binding affinity for the human glucocorticoid receptor, which is approximately 13 times that of dexamethasone, 6 times that of triamcinolone acetonide, 1.5 times that of budesonide and 25 times that of beclomethasone dipropionate. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown. Studies in patients with asthma have shown a favorable ratio between topical anti-inflammatory activity and systemic corticosteroid effects with recommended doses of QVAR. Beclometasone dipropionate was first patented in 1962 and used medically in 1972. Common side effects with the inhaled form include respiratory infections, headaches, and throat inflammation. Serious side effects include an increased risk of infection, cataracts, Cushing’s syndrome, and severe allergic reactions. Long term use of the pill form may cause adrenal insufficiency. The pills may also cause mood or personality changes. The inhaled form is generally regarded as safe in pregnancy. Beclometasone is mainly a glucocorticoid.

Plicamycin (INN, also known as mithramycin; trade name Mithracin) is an antineoplastic antibiotic produced by Streptomyces plicatus. Plicamycin belongs to the group of medicines known as antineoplastics. It may be used to treat certain types of cancer. It is also used to treat hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria (too much calcium in the blood or urine) that may occur with some types of cancer. Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, plicamycin is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:Paget's disease of the bone. The manufacturer discontinued plicamycin in 2000. Several different structures are currently reported in different places all with the same chromomycin core, but with different stereochemistry in the glycoside chain, a 1999 study has re-investigated the compound and proposed a revised structure. Although the exact mechanism by which Mithracin (plicamycin) causes tumor inhibition is not yet known, studies have indicated that this compound forms a complex with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and inhibits cellular ribonucleic acid (RNA) and enzymic RNA synthesis. The binding of Mithracin (plicamycin) to DNA in the presence of Mg + + (or other divalent cations) is responsible for the inhibition of DNA-dependent or DNA-directed RNA synthesis. This action presumably accounts for the biological properties of Mithracin (plicamycin). Plicamycin may also lower calcium serum levels by inhibiting the effect of parathyroid hormone upon osteoclasts or by blocking the hypercalcemic action of pharmacologic doses of vitamin D.

Clofibrate is a fibric acid derivative used to lower cholesterol and triglyceride (fat-like substances) levels in the blood. This may help prevent medical problems caused by such substances clogging the blood vessels. However, this treatment was discontinued in 2002 due to adverse effects. Clofibrate is an agonist of the PPAR-α receptor in muscle, liver, and other tissues. This agonism ultimately leads to modification in gene expression resulting in increased beta-oxidation, decreased triglyceride secretion, increased HDL, and increased lipoprotein lipase activity. Clofibrate increased the activity of extrahepatic lipoprotein lipase (LL), thereby increasing lipoprotein triglyceride lipolysis, inhibited the synthesis, and increases the clearance of apolipoprotein B, a carrier molecule for VLDL. In addition, clofibrate was investigated as a novel therapy agent in multiple myeloma and it shown the promising results.

Chlorprothixene (Taractan, Tarasan, Truxal) is a thioxanthine derivative developed by Lundbeck for the treatment of psychotic disorders. The drug exerts its activity by binding to and inhibiting serotonin receptors, dopamine receptors, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, histamine H1 receptor and alpha1-adrenergic receptor.

Sulfinpyrazone was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 13, 1959. It was developed and marketed as Anturane® by Novartis. Sulfinpyrazone is an oral uricosuric agent (pyrazolone derivative) used to treat chronic or intermittent gouty arthritis. Sulfinpyrazone competitively inhibits the reabsorption of uric acid at the proximal convoluted tubule, thereby facilitating urinary excretion of uric acid and decreasing plasma urate concentrations. This is likely done through inhibition of the urate anion transporter (hURAT1) as well as the human organic anion transporter 4 (hOAT4). Sulfinpyrazone is not intended for the treatment of acute attacks because it lacks therapeutically useful analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Sulfinpyrazone and its sulfide metabolite possess COX inhibitory effects. Sulfinpyrazone has also been shown to be a UDP-glucuronsyltransferase inhibitor and a very potent CYP2C9 inhibitor. Sulfinpyrazone is also known to be a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) inhibitor as well as an inhibitor of several multridrug resistance proteins (MRPs). Branded and generic forms of sulfinpyrazone have been discontinued in the US.

Chlorpropamide (DIABINESE®), is a sulfonylurea hypoglycemic agent used in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus not responding to dietary modification. It appears to lower the blood glucose acutely by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas, an effect dependent upon functioning beta cells in the pancreatic islets. The mechanism by which chlorpropamide (DIABINESE®) lowers blood glucose during long-term administration has not been clearly established. Extra-pancreatic effects may play a part in the mechanism of action of oral sulfonylurea hypoglycemic drugs. While chlorpropamide is a sulfonamide derivative, it is devoid of antibacterial activity. Chlorpropamide (DIABINESE®) may also prove effective in controlling certain patients who have experienced primary or secondary failure to other sulfonylurea agent.

Acenocoumarol is mono-coumarin derivative with racemic mixture of R (+) and S (-) enantiomers. Acenocoumarol is structurally similar to vitamin K and is competitively able to inhibit the enzyme vitamin K-epoxide reductase. It exerts anticoagulant action by preventing the regeneration of reduced vitamin K by interfering with action of vitamin K epoxide reductase. Acenocoumarol is prescribed as the anticoagulant in various thromboembolic disorders.

Promazine (Sparine) is a phenothiazine neuroleptic used for short-term management of moderate to severe psychomotor agitation and treatment of agitation and restlessness in the elderly. Promazine is an antagonist at types 1, 2, and 4 dopamine receptors, 5-HT receptor types 2A and 2C, muscarinic receptors 1 through 5, alpha(1)-receptors, and histamine H1-receptors. Promazine's antipsychotic effect is due to antagonism at dopamine and serotonin type 2 receptors, with greater activity at serotonin 5-HT2 receptors than at dopamine type-2 receptors. This may explain the lack of extrapyramidal effects. Promazine does not appear to block dopamine within the tuberoinfundibular tract, explaining the lower incidence of hyperprolactinemia than with typical antipsychotic agents or risperidone. Antagonism at muscarinic receptors, H1-receptors, and alpha(1)-receptors also occurs with promazine. Promazine is not approved for human use in the United States. It is available in the US for veterinary use under the names Promazine and Tranquazine.

Reserpine is an alkaloid, isolated from the Rauwolfia serpentina plant and developed by Ciba pharma. Reserpine was approved by FDA for the treatment of hypertension and psychotic disorders. The drug exerts its effect by blocking two vesicular monoamine transporters, VMAT1 and VMAT2. The blockade results in vesicles that lose their ability to store neurotransmitter molecules. Neurotransmitters, thus retained in cytosol, are then neutralized by MAO.

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.