Hydrastinine is a synthetic alkaloid prepared by various processes from either hydrastine, berberine, or narcotine. It exerts a strong stimulating action on the uterus of all species studied, including human. Hydrastinine and the closely related alkaloid cotarnine have been employed as hemostatics, particularly in abnormal uterine conditions. In the non-pregnant animal, hydrastinine in doses of 10 mg. depressed both tonus and activity, even after the section of the hypogastric. In the pregnant cat, it caused the uterus to contract. A stimulant action was also noted in the non-pregnant animal if nicotine were administered prior to hydrastinine. The rabbit uterus in situ was strongly contracted. Laidlaw believed that hydrastinine acted on the uterus both directly on the smooth muscle and also through its sympathetic innervation. Repeated administration of large doses for a period of time resulted in greatly increased amplitude of contractions which persisted after removal of the drug. The drug was patented by Bayer as a haemostatic drug during the 1910s.

Aconitine is an alkaloid found in the Aconitum species. Aconitine is a highly toxic cardiotoxin and neurotoxin. In China and other countries, the herbal extract containing aconitine was used for the treatment of pain in musculoskeletal disorders, however the safety margin between therapeutic analgesic effect of aconitine and its known cardiotoxic effect is so narrow that the treatment may cause poisoning and death. The mechanism of aconitine action is explained by its ability to activate voltage-dependent sodium-ion channels.

Benzoin is an organic compound with the formula PhCHCPh. It is a hydroxy ketone attached to two phenyl groups. It appears as off-white crystals, with a light camphor-like odor. Benzoin is synthesized from benzaldehyde in the benzoin condensation. It is chiral and it exists as a pair of enantiomers: -benzoin and -benzoin. Benzoin is not a constituent of benzoin resin obtained from the benzoin tree (Styrax) or tincture of benzoin. The main component in these natural products is benzoic acid. Benzoin was first reported in 1832 by Justus von Liebig and Friedrich Woehler during their research on oil of bitter almond, which is benzaldehyde with traces of hydrocyanic acid. The catalytic synthesis by the benzoin condensation was improved by Nikolay Zinin during his time with Liebig.

QUININE HYPOPHOSPHITE, a salt of quinine, was formerly used, along with the hypophosphites of sodium, potassium, calcium, and iron, in the treatment of phthisis and neurasthenic conditions.

Gallic acid is a polyphenol found in a variety of foods and herbs. Several studies have shown thta gallic acid has neuroprotective and anti-oxidant properties and can be a promising candidate for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, fatty liver disease and many others. Gallic acid acts by protecting cells against oxidative damage caused by reactive species often encountered in biological systems including, hydroxyl, superoxide and peroxyl and the non-radicals, hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid. However, its ability to induce apoptosis, is mainly associated with its prooxidant, rather than antioxidant behavior.

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.

Hydrastine is an alkaloid, one of the chief components of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) which was discovered in 1851 by Alfred P. Durand. Goldenseal is unique from other hydrastine containing plants in that (-)-β- hydrastine is the only hydrastine isomer present, while the (+)-enantiomer is found in other hydrastine-containing plants. . While a number of therapeutic activities have been attributed to berberine, the pharmacological effects of hydrastine are less studied and its safety profile is poorly understood and to frame the relevant pharmacological effects of hydrastine within the specific stereochemistry found in goldenseal. Hydrastine has been shown to have several specific biological activities including, inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase in PC-12 cells, a relaxant effect on guinea pig isolated trachea, and inhibition of several cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Toxicological studies performed on goldenseal powder in mice and rats indicate that at commonly used doses goldenseal supplements are non-toxic, thus its constituents are likely to be safe for human use when taken at reasonable doses. Despite goldenseal’s widespread usage, the pharmacokinetics of hydrastine in humans has not been adequately described. While it is difficult to determine the proper dosage range for any herbal product, a recent extensive survey of the literature suggests a daily dose of Hydrastis in the range of 0.9 to 3 g per day. Hydrastine has been reported to elicit abortifacient effects and induce preterm labor in pregnant women when taken orally.

Strychnine is an indole alkaloid obtained from the seeds of the Indian tree Strychnos nux-vomica. It gets its scientific name “strychnos” from Carl Linnaeus, who classified it back in 1753, but it was known to the population of India way before then. Nux vomica originates in India. Strychnine-containing baits are currently labelled for below-ground use and are intended for the control of pocket gophers. Their use as indoor pesticides has been eliminated since 1989. In the past, strychnine has been used as a pesticide to control rats, moles, gophers, and coyotes. Strychnine is highly toxic to most domestic animals. Strychnine is a competitive antagonist at glycine receptors and thus a convulsant. It has been used as an analeptic, in the treatment of nonketotic hyperglycinemia and sleep apnea.

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.

Ellagic acid is a dilactone of hexahydroxydiphenic acid, that found in numerous fruits and vegetables. Ellagic acid was first discovered by chemist Henri Braconnot in 1831. Ellagic acid is found in oaks species like the North American white oak (Quercus alba) and European red oak (Quercus robur). The highest levels of ellagic acid are found in walnuts, pecans, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, and grapes, as well as distilled beverages. It is also found in peach, and other plant foods. Ellagic acid has antiproliferative and antioxidant properties in a number of in vitro and small-animal models. The antiproliferative properties of ellagic acid may be due to its ability to directly inhibit the DNA binding of certain carcinogens, including nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. As with other polyphenol antioxidants, ellagic acid has a chemoprotective effect in cellular models by reducing oxidative stress. Ellagic acid is an investigational drug studied for treatment of Follicular Lymphoma (phase 2 trial), protection from brain injury of intrauterine growth restricted babies (phase 1 and 2 trial), improvement of cardiovascular function in adolescents who are obese (phase 2 trial), and topical treatment of solar lentigines. Ellagic acid has been marketed as a dietary supplement with a range of claimed benefits against cancer, heart disease, and other medical problems. Ellagic acid has been identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a "fake cancer 'cure' consumers should avoid".