Docosanol is a saturated 22-carbon aliphatic alcohol which exhibits antiviral activity against many lipid enveloped viruses including herpes simplex virus (HSV). Docosanol speeds the healing of cold sores and fever blisters on the face or lips. It also relieves the accompanying symptoms, including tingling, pain, burning, and itching. Docosanol works by inhibiting fusion between the human cell plasma membrane and the herpes simplex virus (HSV) envelope, thereby preventing viral entry into cells and subsequent viral replication. Unlike other cold-sore antivirals, docosanol does not act directly on the virus, and as such it is unlikely it will produce drug resistant mutants of HSV. Used for the topical treatment of recurrent oral-facial herpes simplex episodes (cold sores or fever blisters).

Alcohols exhibit rapid broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against vegetative bacteria (including mycobacteria), viruses, and fungi but are not sporicidal. They are, however, known to inhibit sporulation and spore germination, but this effect is reversible. Because of the lack of sporicidal activity, alcohols are not recommended for sterilization but are widely used for both hard-surface disinfection and skin antisepsis. Lower concentrations may also be used as preservatives and to potentiate the activity of other biocides. Many alcohol products include low levels of other biocides (in particular chlorhexidine), which remain on the skin following evaporation of the alcohol, or excipients (including emollients), which decrease the evaporation time of the alcohol and can significantly increase product efficacy. Ethanol in combination with: chlorhexidine gluconate 1% was approved to use in surgical hand antiseptic. It significantly reduces the number of microorganisms on the hands and forearms prior to surgery or patient care. Ethanol is also used as a co-solvent to dissolve many insoluble drugs and to serve as a mild sedative in some medicinal formulations. Ethanol is metabolized by the hepatic enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. Ethanol affects the brain’s neurons in several ways. It alters their membranes as well as their ion channels, enzymes, and receptors. Alcohol also binds directly to the receptors for acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and the NMDA receptors for glutamate. The sedative effects of ethanol are mediated through binding to GABA receptors and glycine receptors (alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits). It also inhibits NMDA receptor functioning. In its role as an anti-infective, ethanol acts as an osmolyte or dehydrating agent that disrupts the osmotic balance across cell membranes.

Isopropanolamine (1-Amino-2-propanol) is a colorless to yellowish liquid with an amine-like odor. It is miscible in water. Intermediate used in the production of dyes, lubrification oils, corrosion inhibitor, detergents, cutting fluids.

Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol used in a wide variety of cosmetic formulations as a fragrance component, preservative, solvent, and viscosity-decreasing agent. FDA agency approved benzyl alcohol for the treatment of head lice. The drug acts on head lice by inhibiting them from closing their respiratory spiracles, allowing the vehicle to obstruct the spiracles and causing the lice to asphyxiate.

Palosuran, also known as ACT-058362, a potent and specific antagonist of the human UT receptor. Urotensin inhibition with palosuran was a promising alternative in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Palosuran inhibits binding to primate UT receptors in cell membranes but demonstrates differential activity in intact cells and vascular tissues. Palosuran improves pancreatic and renal function in diabetic rats. Phase-II clinical trials for diabetic nephropathies and cardiovascular disorders were discontinued.

Vanillyl alcohol is a monomethoxybenzene that is 2-methoxyphenol substituted by a hydroxymethyl group at position 4. It has a role as a plant metabolite. It is a member of guaiacols and a member of benzyl alcohols. Vanillyl alcohol is a phenolic alcohol and is used as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages. Vanillyl alcohol effectively inhibited the cytotoxicity and improved cell viability in MPP+-induced MN9D dopaminergic cells. Vanillyl alcohol attenuated the elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, decreased in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase proteolysis. These results indicate that vanillyl alcohol protected dopaminergic MN9D cells against MPP+-induced apoptosis by relieving oxidative stress and modulating the apoptotic process and is therefore a potential candidate for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

Proadifen is an inhibitor of drug metabolism and cytochrome P450 enzyme system activity. It stimulated the release of prostacyclin (PGI2) from the rabbit aorta, bovine aorta and human umbilical vein in vitro, but had no effect on cultured smooth muscle from the bovine aortic media. In human platelets, proadifen inhibited prostaglandin and thromboxane production induced by A23187, thrombin, and ADP. Proadifen might thus constitute the prototype of a new class of antiplatelet drugs.

Levomequitazine is the L-enantiomer of mequitazine. The antihistaminergic activity mainly resides in the S-enantiomer, L-mequitazine, whereas the anticholinergic activity mainly resides in the D-enantiomer. It was shown, that L-enantiomer of mequitazine is less potent antagonist of human M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors than D-enantiomer. In vitro binding studies have shown that the affinity of L-mequitazine for H1 receptors is approximately ten times higher and to muscarinic receptors ten times lower, compared to d-mequitazine. Memory impairment was observed after administration of L-mequitazine 10 mg alone on delayed recall. This could be due to indirect effects of H1 receptor blockade. L-mequitazine 10 mg produced mild driving impairment, whereas L-mequitazine 2.5 and 5.0 mg show no effects on driving. Levomequitazine had been in phase III clinical trials by Pierre Fabre for the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis and seasonal allergic rhinitis.