Macelignan is a neuroprotective lingan isolated from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) that protects dopaminergic neurons from inflammatory degeneration. Macelignans have been shown to possess a broad range of pharmacological properties, including anti-bacterial, antiinflammatory, and anti-cancer activity. It has also been demonstrated that macelignans have anti-diabetes, hepatoprotective, and more importantly, neuroprotective properties. Apparently, the neuroprotective effect of macelignan is mediated by PPARγ activation and arginase-1 expression. Macelignan inhibits LPS induced production of NO as well and inflammatory cytokines including TNF and IL- 1β in primary cultures of microglia. Macelignan reduced serum glucose, insulin, triglycerides, free fatty acid levels, and triglycerides levels in the skeletal muscle and liver of db/db mice. Furthermore, macelignan significantly improved glucose and insulin tolerance in these mice, and without altering food intake, their body weights were slightly reduced while weights of troglitazone-treated mice increased. Macelignan increased adiponectin expression in adipose tissue and serum, whereas the expression and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 decreased. Macelignan downregulated inflammatory gene expression in the liver and increased AMP-activated protein kinase activation in the skeletal muscle of db/db mice. Strikingly, macelignan reduced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation in the liver and adipose tissue of db/db mice and subsequently increased insulin signaling.

Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid, the principal constituent of refined palm oil, present in the diet and synthesized endogenously. Palmitic acid is able to activate the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR40. Palmitic acid was also a weak ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. Palmitic acid is a ligand of lipid chaperones - the fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs). Dietary palm oil and palmitic acid may play a role in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Capric acid (decanoic acid) is a medium-chain fatty acid found in saturated fats (cow butter, and plant oils like coconut oil). Capric acid is a major constituent of the MCT ketogenic diet, providing about 40% of the medium chain fat within the diet. The acid is discussed to have positive effect on seizure control through direct AMPA receptor inhibition and on mitochondrial diseases through the binding to PPARgamma. It readily crosses the blood-brain barrier, probably by a combination of diffusion and saturable carrier-mediated transport via a medium-chain fatty acid transporter.

Rhein, also known as cassic acid, is a substance in the anthraquinone group obtained from rhubarb species like Rheum undulatum and Rheum palmatum as well as in Cassia reticulata. Rhein, a metabolite of Diacerein and sennosides, alleviates pain and fever, inhibits inflammation, and has weak laxative. Rhein dose-dependently inhibits superoxide anion production, chemotaxis and phagocytic activity of neutrophils, and macrophage migration and phagocytosis. In addition, rhein exerts its anticancer effects via the modulation of processes of cellular proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. The pharmacokinetics of rhein have not been intensively studied in humans, but at least one study in healthy male volunteers found that rhein was better absorbed from oral administration of rhubarb than from a retention enema. Rhein (at an oral dose of 50 mg twice per day) was shown to be safe when administered for five days to elderly patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Ginsenoside B2 is a constituent of Panax ginseng (ginseng) and Panax japonicum (Japanese ginseng). Ginsenoside B2 belongs to the family of Triterpene Glycosides. Many reports demonstrated that Ginsenoside B2 possesses the multifaceted beneficial pharmacological effects on cardiovascular system. Ginsenoside B2 has negative effect on cardiac contractility and autorhythmicity. It causes alternations in cardiac electrophysiological properties, which may account for its antiarrhythmic effect. In addition, Ginsenoside B2 also exerts antiischemic effect and induces angiogenic regeneration. Ginsenoside B2 is an extract from Panax notoginseng, which is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for the treatment of various diseases for years. Ginsenoside B2 has been reported to decrease Aβ in Alzheimer's disease animal models. Ginsenoside B2 is a component of Korean Red Ginseng. The ginsenoside content of the red ginseng is shown as Rg1: 3.3 mg/g, Re (B2): 2.0 mg/g, Rb1: 5.8 mg/g, Rc: 1.7 mg/g, Rb2: 2.3 mg/g, and Rd: 0.4 mg/g, respectively. Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer, Araliaceae) is traditionally used as an important herbal medicine in Far East Asia. Korean Red Ginseng is possibly effective for: • Alzheimer's disease. Evidence shows that taking Panax ginseng root daily for 12 weeks can improve mental performance in people with Alzheimer's disease. • Lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Taking Panax ginseng by mouth seems to improve lung function and some symptoms of COPD. • Mental function. Taking Panax ginseng by mouth might improve abstract thinking, mental arithmetic skills, and reaction times in healthy, middle-aged people but not in young adults. Panax ginseng alone does not seem to improve memory. But there is some evidence that a combination of Panax ginseng and ginkgo leaf extract can improve memory in otherwise healthy people between the ages of 38 and 66. • Erectile dysfunction (ED). Taking Panax ginseng by mouth seems to improve sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction. • Flu. Taking a specific Panax ginseng by mouth appears to reduce the risk of getting a cold or the flu. But, taking Panax ginseng does not seem to reduce flu symptoms or the length of the illness. • Multiple sclerosis-related fatigue. Taking Panax ginseng daily for 3 months reduces feelings of tiredness and improves quality of life in females with MS. • Premature ejaculation. Applying a cream containing Panax ginseng, angelica root, Cistanches deserticola, Zanthoxyl species, torlidis seed, clover flower, asiasari root, cinnamon bark, and toad venom (SS Cream) to the penis one hour before intercourse and washing off immediately before intercourse seems to help prevent premature ejaculation. • Sexual arousal. Taking powdered Korean red ginseng, a specific form of Panax ginseng, seems to improve sexual arousal and satisfaction in postmenopausal women.

Bezafibrate is a lipid-lowering fibric acid derivative. Bezafibrate directly bound to and activated all three peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes respectively in PPAR binding and transactivation assays. However, from a biochemical point of view, bezafibrate is a PPAR ligand with a relatively low potency. Bezafibrate leads to considerable raising of HDL cholesterol and reduces triglycerides, improves insulin sensitivity and reduces blood glucose level, significantly lowering the incidence of cardiovascular events and new diabetes in patients with features of metabolic syndrome. It is the only pan-PPAR activator with more than a quarter of a century of therapeutic experience with a good safety profile.

Ginsenoside Rf has being shown to have the inhibitory effect on the inflammatory mediators downstream of p38/NF-kB activation on TNF-α-stimulated intestinal epithelial cells (HT-29) and mouse macrophage cells (RAW264.7). Ginsenoside Rf significantly reduced the production of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, NO, and ROS, which are most highly activated in IBD. In addition, ginsenoside Rf significantly suppressed TNF-α/LPS-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity. Ginsenoside Rf has being shown to contains a compound that has potent intestinal anti-inflammatory effects that could be used to treat diseases such as IBD. Computational and experimental data suggest that Ginsenoside Rf may help attenuate obesity by interacting with PPARg and inhibiting adipogenesis. However, further studies in animal models will be required to assess the true potential of Rf as an antiobesity drug. Ginsenoside Rf is one of the major components of Korean Red Ginseng, marketed in Korea. Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer, Araliaceae) is traditionally used as an important herbal medicine in Far East Asia. Korean Red Ginseng is possibly effective for: • Alzheimer's disease. Evidence shows that taking Panax ginseng root daily for 12 weeks can improve mental performance in people with Alzheimer's disease. • Lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Taking Panax ginseng by mouth seems to improve lung function and some symptoms of COPD. • Mental function. Taking Panax ginseng by mouth might improve abstract thinking, mental arithmetic skills, and reaction times in healthy, middle-aged people but not in young adults. Panax ginseng alone does not seem to improve memory. But there is some evidence that a combination of Panax ginseng and ginkgo leaf extract can improve memory in otherwise healthy people between the ages of 38 and 66. • Erectile dysfunction (ED). Taking Panax ginseng by mouth seems to improve sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction. • Flu. Taking a specific Panax ginseng by mouth appears to reduce the risk of getting a cold or the flu. But, taking Panax ginseng does not seem to reduce flu symptoms or the length of the illness. • Multiple sclerosis-related fatigue. Taking Panax ginseng daily for 3 months reduces feelings of tiredness and improves quality of life in females with MS. • Premature ejaculation. Applying a cream containing Panax ginseng, angelica root, Cistanches deserticola, Zanthoxyl species, torlidis seed, clover flower, asiasari root, cinnamon bark, and toad venom (SS Cream) to the penis one hour before intercourse and washing off immediately before intercourse seems to help prevent premature ejaculation.

Isoflavone, a type of phytoestrogen, is found in soy protein. It is a class of compound, substituted derivatives of isoflavone (e.g., genistein, daidzein, glycitein). Isoflavones exert antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects by acting as peroxisome-proliferator activated receptors agonist. Isoflavones could participate in the regulation of adiposity and glucose metabolism. It was discovered, that isoflavone supplements prevented osteoporosis in women, by means of increasing bone mineral density and decreasing bone resorption marker urinary deoxypyridinoline.

Oryzanol A (gamma-oryzanol) is a naturally occurring component in rice bran and rice germ which consists of a mixture of ferulic acid esters of sterols and triterpene alcohols. In 1954, Kaneko and Tsuchiya et al. reported that isolated oryzanol demonstrated nutritional effects on animals. There are increasing numbers of reports indicating the benefits, efficacy and safety of gamma-oryzanol. There are a number of clinical studies reported that gamma-oryzanol is beneficial in the treatment of relieving menopausal (climacteric) symptoms. combination of -oryzanol and plant sterol has been used in the treatment of senile dementia, arteriosclerosis and cerebromalacia. The mechanism of action of gamma-oryzanol is believed to be involved in the metabolism of catecholamine in the hypothalamus. The antioxidant effect of gamma-oryzanol was well documented and excellent in inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Currently in Japan, gamma-oryzanol is approved and listed as “antioxidant” under the list of chemical composition of food additives. Oryzanol A has been shown to alleviate hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia.