Sesamin is the most prominent lignan compound found in sesame seeds, one of the two highest sources of lignans in the human diet (the other being flax). 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 atheltes 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 desaturase in polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. Sesamin inhibits a particular CYP3A enzymes that is 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.

Parabens are widely used preservatives in basic necessities such as cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. It was found, that butylparaben has estrogenic and antiandrogenic properties and is known to reduce sperm counts in rats following perinatal exposure. In addition was observed, that butylparaben exerted endocrine disrupting effects on both male and female offspring. In 2009-2010, 80 pregnant women from Ottawa Canada participated in the Plastics and Personal-Care Product Use in Pregnancy (P4) Study. Women kept a diary of products that they used 24 h prior to and during the collection. All parabens measured in maternal urine had moderate to high reproducibility. Women who used lotions in the past 24 h had significantly higher geometric mean paraben concentrations (80-110%) in their urine than women who reported no use in the past 24 h. Women who used shampoo, conditioner, and cosmetics also showed 70-80% higher butylparaben concentrations in their urine.

Ornidazole is nitroimidazole derivative. It is an antiprotozoal drug that has proven to be effective against Trichomonas vaginalis, Entoamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Helicobacter pylori. The reduction of the nitro group and the generation of short-lived reactive intermediates are the basis of its parasiticidal activity. Ornidazole is a DNA-tropic drug with selective activity against microorganisms with enzyme systems capable of reducing the nitrogroup and catalyze the interaction between ferrodoxin proteins and nitrocompounds. After the drug penetrates the microbial cell, the mechanism of its action is based reducing the nitrogroup under the influence of the microorganism’s nitroreductases and the activity of the reduced nitroimidazole. The reduction products create compounds with DNA causing it to degrade, and disrupt the DNA replication and transcription processes. Furthermore, the drug’s metabolism products have cytotoxic properties and disrupt cellular respiration processes. It is indicated for the treatment of anaerobic systemic infections caused by ornidazole-sensitive microflora, prevention of infections caused by anaerobic bacteria, during operative treatment (especially middle and straight intestine surgeries), gynecological surgeries, severe intestinal ameobiasis, all extra-intestinal ameobiasis forms, giardiasis. Ornidazole was shown to be effective for the prevention of recurrence of Crohn's disease after ileocolonic resection.

Higenamine HCl (norcoclaurine) is a plant-based alkaloid widely used as nutritional supplement in food and beverage industries. It exists in variety of plants including Tinospora crispa, Nandina domestica, Gnetum Parvifolium C.Y. Cheng, sarum Heterotropoides, Nelumbo nucifera. It was initially isolated from Aconitum and identified as the active cardiotonic component of this medicinal plant used as local and traditional medicines in many Asian regions for the treatment of various diseases such as collapse, syncope, painful joints, oedema, bronchial asthma etc. Various pharmacological properties and potentially multi-spectral medical applications of higenamine have been reviled in many in vitro and in vivo studies conducted in animals and humans. Pharmacological properties of higenamine include positive inotropic and chronotropic effect, activating slow channel effect, vascular and tracheal relaxation effect, anti-thrombotic, anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative effect, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect. Studies on higenamine showed potential therapeutic effects for diseases like heart failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), shock, arthritis, asthma, ischemia/reperfusion injuries and erectile dysfunction. Higenamine has been tested as a candidate of pharmacologic stress agent in the detection of coronary artery diseases (CADs) in human clinical studies in China. In animal models, higenamine has been demonstrated to be a β2 adrenoreceptor agonist. It partly exerts its actions by the activation of adenylate cyclase, responsible for boosting the cellular concentrations of the adrenergic second messenger, cAMP. Via a beta-adrenoceptor mechanism higenamine, induced relaxation in rat corpus cavernosum, leading to improved vasodilation and erectile function. Related to improved vasodilatory signals, higenamine has been shown to possess antiplatelet and antithrombotic activity via a cAMP-dependent pathway, suggesting it may contribute to enhanced vasodilation and arterial integrity. Anti-apoptotic and cardiac protective effects of higenamine were shown to be mediated by the β2-AR/PI3K/AKT cascade. Higenamine is marketed as a dietary supplement for weight loss and sport performance, and is added to many fat burning supplements. Along with many other β2 agonists, higenamine is prohibited by World Anti-Doping Agency for use in sports.

Hymecromone (4-methylumbelliferone) is already approved drug in Europe and Asia where it is used to treat biliary spasm. It is used as choleretic and antispasmodic drugs and as a standard for the fluorometric determination of enzyme activity. The concomitant administration of Hymecromone with products, containing metoclopramide, leads to mutual decrease of their action. Due to a danger of diarrhea with subsequent hypokalemia, Hymecromone should be applied with caution to patients on cardiac glycosides therapy (in these cases the sensitivity to them is increased). Hymecromone can be administered simultaneously with otherspasmolytics and analgesics. Very rare allergic reactions, itching, erythema, rashes; diarrhea which normally disappears by reduction of dose or discontinuance of therapy.

Pizotifen (INN) or pizotyline (USAN), trade name Sandomigran, is a benzocycloheptene-based drug used as a medicine, primarily as a preventative to reduce the frequency of recurrent migraine headaches. Pizotifen is a serotonin antagonist acting mainly at the 5-HT2A and 5HT2C receptors. It also has some activity as an antihistamine as well as some anticholinergic activity. The main medical use for pizotifen is for the prevention of vascular headache including migraine and cluster headache. Pizotifen is one of a range of medications used for this purpose, other options include propranolol, topiramate, valproic acid and amitriptyline. While pizotifen is reasonably effective, its use is limited by side effects, principally drowsiness and weight gain, and it is usually not the first choice medicine for preventing migraines, instead being used as an alternative when other drugs have failed to be effective. It is not effective in relieving migraine attacks once in progress. Pizotifen has also been reported as highly effective in a severe case of erythromelalgia, a rare neurovascular disease that is sometimes refractory to the other drugs named above. Side effects include sedation, dry mouth, drowsiness, increased appetite and weight gain. Occasionally it may cause nausea, headaches, or dizziness. In rare cases, anxiety, aggression and depression may also occur. Pizotifen is well absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract, peak plasma concentrations occurring approximately 5 hours after oral administration. The absorption of pizotifen is fast (absorption half life 0.5 to 0.8 hours) and nearly complete (80%). Over 90% is bound to plasma proteins. Pizotifen undergoes extensive metabolism. Over half of a dose is excreted in the urine, chiefly as metabolites; a significant proportion is excreted in the faeces. The primary metabolite of pizotifen (N-glucuronide conjugate) has a long elimination half-life of about 23 hours.

Acotiamide (Acofide(®)), an oral first-in-class prokinetic drug, is under global development by Zeria Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd and Astellas Pharma Inc. for the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia. The drug modulates upper gastrointestinal motility to alleviate abdominal symptoms resulting from hypomotility and delayed gastric emptying. It exerts its activity in the stomach via muscarinic receptor inhibition, resulting in enhanced acetylcholine release and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. Acofide® is launched in Japan for treating functional dyspepsia.

Sarpogrelate (brand name Anplag; former developmental code names MCI-9042, LS-187,118) is a drug which acts as an antagonist at the 5HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors. It blocks serotonin-induced platelet aggregation and has applications in the treatment of many diseases including diabetes mellitus, Buerger's disease, Raynaud's disease, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, and atherosclerosis.

Acotiamide (Acofide(®)), an oral first-in-class prokinetic drug, is under global development by Zeria Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd and Astellas Pharma Inc. for the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia. The drug modulates upper gastrointestinal motility to alleviate abdominal symptoms resulting from hypomotility and delayed gastric emptying. It exerts its activity in the stomach via muscarinic receptor inhibition, resulting in enhanced acetylcholine release and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. Acofide® is launched in Japan for treating functional dyspepsia.

Pizotifen (INN) or pizotyline (USAN), trade name Sandomigran, is a benzocycloheptene-based drug used as a medicine, primarily as a preventative to reduce the frequency of recurrent migraine headaches. Pizotifen is a serotonin antagonist acting mainly at the 5-HT2A and 5HT2C receptors. It also has some activity as an antihistamine as well as some anticholinergic activity. The main medical use for pizotifen is for the prevention of vascular headache including migraine and cluster headache. Pizotifen is one of a range of medications used for this purpose, other options include propranolol, topiramate, valproic acid and amitriptyline. While pizotifen is reasonably effective, its use is limited by side effects, principally drowsiness and weight gain, and it is usually not the first choice medicine for preventing migraines, instead being used as an alternative when other drugs have failed to be effective. It is not effective in relieving migraine attacks once in progress. Pizotifen has also been reported as highly effective in a severe case of erythromelalgia, a rare neurovascular disease that is sometimes refractory to the other drugs named above. Side effects include sedation, dry mouth, drowsiness, increased appetite and weight gain. Occasionally it may cause nausea, headaches, or dizziness. In rare cases, anxiety, aggression and depression may also occur. Pizotifen is well absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract, peak plasma concentrations occurring approximately 5 hours after oral administration. The absorption of pizotifen is fast (absorption half life 0.5 to 0.8 hours) and nearly complete (80%). Over 90% is bound to plasma proteins. Pizotifen undergoes extensive metabolism. Over half of a dose is excreted in the urine, chiefly as metabolites; a significant proportion is excreted in the faeces. The primary metabolite of pizotifen (N-glucuronide conjugate) has a long elimination half-life of about 23 hours.