Dimethyl succinate is the inactive analog of dimethyl fumarate. Dimethyl succinate has a pleasant, ethereal, winey odor and a fruity, winey, and burning flavor. It is used in foods as a flavoring ingredient. Dimethyl succinate was found at increased concentrations in the culture medium of the lung cancer cell line A549 and in the urine of mice implanted with A549 cells. Dimethyl succinate could be used to prolong the insulinotropic action of GLP-1 in the treatment of type-2 diabetes and it may represent a novel therapeutic approach in endotoxemia and multiple-organ failure.

Thymidine is a water-soluble pyrimidine deoxynucleoside and potent thymidine kinase substrate. Thymidine is known to be converted to dTTP and utilized for DNA synthesis. It is also known that thymidine is converted by catabolic enzymes to several end products. Excess thymidine results in high levels of dTTP, which exerts a regulatory feedback inhibition in the nucleotide biosynthesis pathways leading to DNA synthesis. This property of thymidine is used when it is given in high doses to patients with solid tumors. Thymidine is being tested in Phase II of clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and 5'-Nucleotidase Syndrome.

Retinal, All-trans is one of the forms of vitamin A. It is an isomer of 11-cis-retinal, transductor of light into the neural signals. Retinal, All-trans is converted to retinoic acid in vivo by the action of retinal dehydrogenase. Retinal, All-trans is associated with one of the two isoforms of cellular retinol-binding proteins (CRBP-I and CRBP-II). These proteins play important roles in retinoid biology and regulation of the metabolism of retinol and retinal.

Orotic acid is a minor dietary constituent. Historically it was believed to be part of the vitamin B complex and was called vitamin B13, but it is now known that it is not a vitamin and is synthesized in the body, where it arises as an intermediate in the pathway for the synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides. Orotic acid is converted to UMP by UMP synthase, a multifunctional protein with both orotate phosphoribosyl transferase and orotidylate decarboxylase activity. The most frequently observed inborn error of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis is a mutation of the multifunctional protein UMP synthase. As a result, plasma orotic acid accumulates to high concentrations, and increased quantities appear in the urine. Orotic acid levels are elevated in the urea cycle defects ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, citrullinemia and argininosuccinic acidemia, as well as the mitochondrial transport disorder hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome. Orotic acid is also elevated in hereditary orotic aciduria, or uridine monophosphate synthase deficiency, an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by megaloblastic anemia and crystalluria. In addition, orotic acid in combination with leflunomide is in the phase II of clinical trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a combination in kidney transplant patients with high levels of Polyoma BK viruria for the purpose of preventing polyoma BK viremia and nephropathy, that could lead to kidney transplant loss from viral damage, acute rejection or both.

Glucose-6-phosphate belongs to the class of organic compounds known as monosaccharide phosphates. It lies at the start of two major metabolic pathways: glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway. It is a glucose-6-phosphatase substrate. Hexokinase is inhibited by its product, glucose 6-phosphate. The non-enzymatic glycation of myosin by glucose 6-phosphate is probably the primary cause for the observed loss of the ATPase activity of myosin.

4-n-octylphenol is alkylphenol widely used as a surfactant. 4-n-octylphenol exposure was associated with idiopathic male infertility. Fetal exposure to the very weak estrogenicity of 4-n-octylphenol could enhance the induction of mammary carcinomas but not affect the induction of benign proliferative lesions. It is an endocrine-disrupting chemical. 4-n-octylphenol is an agonist and antagonist of estrogen receptor and androgen receptor, respectively. 4-n-octylphenol at high doses caused reduction in mammary tumor development in female human c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene transgenic rats and possibly non-transgenic rats.

N-acetyl-S-farnesyl-L-cysteine (acetyl farnesylcysteine), a modulator of G protein and G-protein coupled receptor signaling, inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis and other inflammatory responses in cell-based assays, is a synthetic substrate for the isoprenylated protein methyltransferase (also known as S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase). It was shown, that the topical N-acetyl-S-farnesyl-L-cysteine inhibited mouse skin inflammation and might exert its anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition of chemokine production by stimulated endothelial cells.

Allantoin is a metabolic intermediate of a wide variety of organims: from bacteria to vegetals and animals. Allantoin is a skin active ingridient with keratolytic, moisturizing, anti-irritant properties, promotes renewal of epidermal cell and accelerates wounds healing. Allantoin possesses one chiral center thereby exists in the two enantiomeric forms R-(-) and S-( ). Enzymes that catalyze the formation of (S)-allantoin from the product of the urate oxidase reaction have been identified. The two proteins encoded by mouse genes catalyze two consecutive steps following urate oxidation to 5-hydroxyisourate (HIU): hydrolysis of HIU to give 2-oxo-4-hydroxy-4-carboxy-5-ureidoimidazoline (OHCU) and decarboxylation of OHCU to give S-( )-allantoin. Urate oxidation produces racemic allantoin on a time scale of hours, whereas the full enzymatic complement produces dextrorotatory allantoin on a time scale of seconds. Scioderm is developing Allantoin (Zorblisa; SD-101), as a novel topical therapy for patients with epidermolysis bullosa.

Uric acid, generated from the metabolism of purines, has proven and emerging roles in human disease. Humans produce large quantities of uric acid. Excess serum accumulation of uric acid can lead to a type of arthritis known as gout. Hyperuricemia may increase risk factors for cardiovascular disease. High serum uric acid was associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes and other diseases.

Alpha-terpineol is a monoterpene found in the essential oils of several aromatic plant species. It has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. alpha-Terpineol is a fragrance ingredient used in decorative cosmetics, fine fragrances, shampoos, toilet soaps, and other toiletries as well as in non-cosmetic products such as household cleaners and detergents. alpha-Terpineol was approved by the FDA as a flavor.