Vaccenic acid (VA) (t11 octadecenoic acid) is a positional and geometric isomer of oleic acid (c9-octadecenoic acid), and is the predominant trans monoene in ruminant fats (50%–80% of total trans content). Dietary VA can be desaturated to cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (c9,t11-CLA) in ruminants, rodents, and humans. Hydrogenated plant oils are another source of VA in the diet, and it has been recently estimated that this source may contribute to about 13%–17% of total VA intake. In contrast to suggestions from the epidemiological studies, the majority of studies using cancer cell lines (Awad et al. 1995; Miller et al. 2003) or rodent tumors (Banni et al. 2001; Corl et al. 2003; Ip et al. 1999; Sauer et al. 2004) have demonstrated that VA reduces cell growth and (or) tumor metabolism. Animal and in vitro studies suggest that the anti-cancer properties of VA are due, in part, to the in vivo conversion of VA to c9,t11-CLA. However, several additional mechanisms for the anti-cancer effects of VA have been proposed, including changes in phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis, reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and inhibition of fatty acid uptake. In conclusion, although the epidemiological evidence of VA intake and cancer risk suggests a positive relationship, this is not supported by the few animal studies that have been performed. The majority of the studies suggest that any health benefit of VA may be conferred by in vivo mammalian conversion of VA to c9,t11-CLA. VA acts as a partial agonist to both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR)-α and PPAR-γ in vitro, with similar affinity compared to commonly known PPAR agonists. Hypolipidemic and antihypertrophic bioactivity of VA is potentially mediated via PPAR-/-dependent pathways.

N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid is an amino acid derivative acting as a specific agonist at the NMDA receptor, and therefore mimics the action of the neurotransmitter glutamate on that receptor. Unlike glutamate, NMDA only binds to and regulates the NMDA receptor and has no effect on other glutamate receptors (such as those for AMPA and kainate). NMDA receptors are particularly important when they become overactive during withdrawal from alcohol as this causes symptoms such as agitation and, sometimes, epileptiform seizures. NMDA is a water-soluble synthetic substance that is not normally found in biological tissue.

Phosphopantothenic acid is an amidoalkyl phosphate that is the 4-phosphate derivative of (R)-pantothenic acid. Phosphopantothenic acid is not permeable to cell membranes due to its anionic character, consistent with the observation that systemic administration of Phosphopantothenic acid does not restore CoA levels in cellular and mouse models

XK-469 (2-[4-(7-chloro-2-quinoxalinyloxy)phenoxy]-propionic acid) is a novel synthetic quinoxaline phenoxypropionic acid derivative. The R-isomer of XK-469 was approximately twice as effective as the S-isomer of XK-469R. R( )-isomers induce reversible protein DNA crosslinks in mammalian cells. It acts as a selective topoisomerase IIβ inhibitor. A phase I study was performed to determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of XK-469, (R)- in patients with various neoplasms.