Noscapine (also known as Narcotine, Nectodon, Nospen, Anarcotine and (archaic) Opiane) is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from plants of the poppy family, without painkilling properties. This agent is primarily used for its antitussive (cough-suppressing) effects. Noscapine is often used as an antitussive medication. A 2012 Dutch guideline, however, does not recommend its use for coughing. Noscapine can increase the effects of centrally sedating substances such as alcohol and hypnotics. Noscapine should not be taken in conjunction with warfarin as the anticoagulant effects of warfarin may be increased. Noscapine, and its synthetic derivatives called noscapinoids, are known to interact with microtubules and inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Mechanisms for its antitussive action are unknown, although animal studies have suggested central nervous system as a site of action. Furthermore, noscapine causes apoptosis in many cell types and has potent antitumor activity against solid murine lymphoid tumors (even when the drug was administered orally) and against human breast and bladder tumors implanted in nude mice. Because noscapine is water-soluble and absorbed after oral administration, its chemotherapeutic potential in human cancer merits thorough evaluation. Antifibrotic effect of noscapine based on novel mechanism, which it shows through EP2 prostaglandin E2 receptor-mediated activation of protein kinase A.

Aminophenazone is a phenyl-pyrazolone derivative with potent analgesic and antipyretic properties. Aminophenazone has been used as salt or complexes, including topically as the salicylate. It was recommended for the treatment of a fever, neuralgia, myositis, acute rheumatism, arthritis, chorea. In 1999 the FDA suspended aminophenazone. The drug caused agranulocytosis. Some of the cases of agranulocytosis were fatal. Another reason for suspending this drug from the market was its ability to react with nitrite-containing food, thus forming carcinogenic nitrosamines. A breath test with 13C-labeled aminopyrine has been used as a non-invasive measure of cytochrome P-450 metabolic activity in liver function tests.

Noscapine (also known as Narcotine, Nectodon, Nospen, Anarcotine and (archaic) Opiane) is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from plants of the poppy family, without painkilling properties. This agent is primarily used for its antitussive (cough-suppressing) effects. Noscapine is often used as an antitussive medication. A 2012 Dutch guideline, however, does not recommend its use for coughing. Noscapine can increase the effects of centrally sedating substances such as alcohol and hypnotics. Noscapine should not be taken in conjunction with warfarin as the anticoagulant effects of warfarin may be increased. Noscapine, and its synthetic derivatives called noscapinoids, are known to interact with microtubules and inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Mechanisms for its antitussive action are unknown, although animal studies have suggested central nervous system as a site of action. Furthermore, noscapine causes apoptosis in many cell types and has potent antitumor activity against solid murine lymphoid tumors (even when the drug was administered orally) and against human breast and bladder tumors implanted in nude mice. Because noscapine is water-soluble and absorbed after oral administration, its chemotherapeutic potential in human cancer merits thorough evaluation. Antifibrotic effect of noscapine based on novel mechanism, which it shows through EP2 prostaglandin E2 receptor-mediated activation of protein kinase A.

Aminophenazone is a phenyl-pyrazolone derivative with potent analgesic and antipyretic properties. Aminophenazone has been used as salt or complexes, including topically as the salicylate. It was recommended for the treatment of a fever, neuralgia, myositis, acute rheumatism, arthritis, chorea. In 1999 the FDA suspended aminophenazone. The drug caused agranulocytosis. Some of the cases of agranulocytosis were fatal. Another reason for suspending this drug from the market was its ability to react with nitrite-containing food, thus forming carcinogenic nitrosamines. A breath test with 13C-labeled aminopyrine has been used as a non-invasive measure of cytochrome P-450 metabolic activity in liver function tests.

Sesamin is a naturally occurring compound found in sesame oil and in the bark and fruit of certain plant species. SESAMIN, (±)- is a racemic dl-form. The dl-form is also known as fagarol, and may be isolated from the bark of various fagara species. Sesamin, either as the d-form or the dl-form, has now been found to possess psychotropic activity, i.e., administration of appropriate dosages to a human or animal subject elicits a psychotropic response. 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 athletes 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 desaturases in polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. Sesamin inhibits particular CYP3A enzymes that are 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.

Niraparib (MK-4827) displays excellent PARP 1 and 2 inhibition. Inhibition of PARP in the context of defects in other DNA repair mechanisms provide a tumor specific way to kill cancer cells. Niraparib is in development with TESARO, under licence from Merck & Co, for the treatment of cancers (ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and Ewing's sarcoma). Niraparib was characterized in a number of preclinical models before moving to phase I clinical trials, where it showed excellent human pharmacokinetics suitable for once a day oral dosing, achieved its pharmacodynamic target for PARP inhibition, and had promising activity in cancer patients. It is currently being tested in phase 3 clinical trials as maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer and as a treatment for breast cancer.

Niraparib (MK-4827) displays excellent PARP 1 and 2 inhibition. Inhibition of PARP in the context of defects in other DNA repair mechanisms provide a tumor specific way to kill cancer cells. Niraparib is in development with TESARO, under licence from Merck & Co, for the treatment of cancers (ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and Ewing's sarcoma). Niraparib was characterized in a number of preclinical models before moving to phase I clinical trials, where it showed excellent human pharmacokinetics suitable for once a day oral dosing, achieved its pharmacodynamic target for PARP inhibition, and had promising activity in cancer patients. It is currently being tested in phase 3 clinical trials as maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer and as a treatment for breast cancer.

Niraparib (MK-4827) displays excellent PARP 1 and 2 inhibition. Inhibition of PARP in the context of defects in other DNA repair mechanisms provide a tumor specific way to kill cancer cells. Niraparib is in development with TESARO, under licence from Merck & Co, for the treatment of cancers (ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and Ewing's sarcoma). Niraparib was characterized in a number of preclinical models before moving to phase I clinical trials, where it showed excellent human pharmacokinetics suitable for once a day oral dosing, achieved its pharmacodynamic target for PARP inhibition, and had promising activity in cancer patients. It is currently being tested in phase 3 clinical trials as maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer and as a treatment for breast cancer.

Metomidate is a non-barbiturate imidazole which produces a sleepy condition of 20-60 minutes duration without substantial analgesia. Since the beginning of 1997 the use of the hypnotic drug metomidate (Hypnodil) in swine is nor longer allowed. This ban caused a substantial therapeutic deficit for anesthesia in swine. 11C-metomidate may be used with positron emission tomography which can differentiate adrenocortical from nonadrenocortical tumors and a suspected adrenocortical cancer may be characterized and staged before surgery. Metomidate hydrochloride is for the sedation and anesthesia of aquarium and non-food fish species. Aquacalm has been granted Indexed status by the FDA for this purpose.

Sarcosine, also known as N-methylglycine, is a metabolite of glycine. It shares properties with both glycine and D-serine, though its effects are weaker. Sarcosine supplementation can be used to alleviate symptoms of depression and schizophrenia, or improve cognition. It is absorbed more reliably by the body than D-serine, which can also treat similar conditions. Sarcosine is being investigated for its connection to prostate cancer. It may be a biomarker for prostate cancer, which means that if sarcosine levels in the blood are higher than normal, it could be an indicator of prostate cancer. This doesn’t mean that sarcosine itself causes cancer. More research is needed to confirm this relationship. Sarcosine’s main mechanism involves inhibiting a transporter, called GlyT1, which takes up glycine and D-serine into cells. This increases the levels of glycine and D-serine in the body and increases their effects. Sarcosine, a glycine transporter type 1 inhibitor and an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor co-agonist at the glycine binding site, potentiates NMDA receptor function. Sarcosine is an inhibitory glycine receptor agonist.