Maltose, also known as maltobiose or malt sugar, is a disaccharide formed from two units of glucose joined with an α(1→4) bond, formed from a condensation reaction. Maltose was discovered by Irish chemist and brewer Cornelius O'Sullivan in 1872. Maltose is a component of malt, a substance which is obtained in the process of allowing grain to soften in water and germinate. It is found in beverages, beer, cereal, pasta, potatoes and in many processed products which have been sweetened.

1,3,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose was isolated from Euphorbia lunulata Bge and from the leaves of Sapium insigne (ROYLE) BENTH. ex HOOK. fil. It was shown, that this compound inhibited the following processes: differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and triglyceride accumulation in mature adipocytes, and nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells.

Acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), a pentacyclic triterpene, is a component of gum resin of Boswellia serrata. It inhibits 5-lipoxygenase in a selective, enzyme directed, non-redox, and noncompetitive manner. In addition, AKBA inhibited topoisomerase I. It induces apoptosis and exerts antineoplastic properties. 5-LOXIN, a dietary supplement ingredient (Boswellia serrata extract enriched with 30% 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid) is effective in reducing pain and improving physical functioning in osteoarthritis patients.

Glucosamine is an amino sugar and a prominent precursor in the biochemical synthesis of glycosylated proteins and lipids. Glucosamine is part of the structure of the polysaccharides chitosan and chitin, which compose the exoskeletons of crustaceans and other arthropods, as well as the cell walls of fungi and many higher organisms. Glucosamine is one of the most abundant monosaccharides. It is produced commercially by the hydrolysis of crustacean exoskeletons or, less commonly, by fermentation of a grain such as corn or wheat. Evidence for the effectiveness of glucosamine supplements is mixed. In the United States, it is one of the most common non-vitamin, non-mineral, dietary supplements used by adults. Glucosamine is marketed to support the structure and function of joints, and the marketing is targeted to people suffering from osteoarthritis. Commonly sold forms of glucosamine are glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, and N-acetylglucosamine. Of the three commonly available forms of glucosamine, only glucosamine sulfate is given a "likely effective" rating for treating osteoarthritis. Glucosamine is often sold in combination with other supplements such as chondroitin sulfate and methylsulfonylmethane. Glucosamine, along with commonly used chondroitin, is not routinely prescribed to treat people who have symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee, as there is insufficient evidence that this treatment is helpful. As is common with heavily promoted dietary supplements, the claimed benefits of glucosamine are based principally on clinical and laboratory studies. Clinical studies are divided, with some reporting relief from arthritic pain and stiffness, while higher quality studies report no benefit above placebo. There is no evidence to date that consumption of glucosamine by sport participants will prevent or limit joint damage after injury. In a randomized placebo-controlled trial, glucosamine supplementation had no additional effect on any rehabilitation outcome when given to athletes after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Glucosamine is naturally present in the shells of shellfish, animal bones, bone marrow, and fungi. D-Glucosamine is made naturally in the form of glucosamine-6-phosphate, and is the biochemical precursor of all nitrogen-containing sugars. Specifically in humans, glucosamine-6-phosphate is synthesized from fructose 6-phosphate and glutamine by glutamine—fructose-6-phosphate transaminase as the first step of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway. The end-product of this pathway is uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), which is then used for making glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and glycolipids. As the formation of glucosamine-6-phosphate is the first step for the synthesis of these products, glucosamine may be important in regulating their production; however, the way that the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway is actually regulated, and whether this could be involved in contributing to human disease remains unclear.

Beta-Hydroxyisovaleric acid (also known as 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid or 3HIA) is a normal human metabolite excreted in the urine. It is a byproduct of the leucine degradation pathway. Beta-Hydroxyisovaleric acid serves as a sensitive indicator of marginal biotin deficiency in humans. The variability of the proportion of leucine catabolites excreted as 3HIA suggests substantial population heterogeneity in the metabolic capacity of the 3HIA-carnitine detoxification pathway. In addition, was shown that in type II diabetic patients the catabolism of leucine was accelerated even in the absence of ketosis and that the urinary beta-hydroxyisovaleric acid concentration was a useful marker of short-term metabolic control in these patients.

Beta-acetyldigoxin (under the brand name Novodigal), a beta-acetyl derivative of digoxin, acts as a prodrug. It is deacetylated in the cells of the intestinal mucosa and is present inside the body solely in the form of digoxin. β-acetyldigoxin has a higher bioavailability than digoxin. Beta-acetyldigoxin is a substrate of P-glycoprotein.

4-Amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid (GABOB) is an endogenous ligand found in the central nervous system in mammals. γ-Amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid is a derivative of the neurotransmitter GABA. It has been claimed to be of value in neurological disorders and to have an antihypertensive effect. γ-Amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid can help overcome stress and anxiety, improve learning and boost memory function. It is also known to increase growth hormone levels, which help the body heal and rejuvenate itself. There are no reported side effects of γ-Amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid when taken at therapeutic dosages. At high dosages, some slight drowsiness may occur. Adverse effects have included dizziness and anorexia also.

Aescin, the major active principle from Aesculus hippocastanum (Hippocastanaceae) the horse chestnut tree, has shown satisfactory evidence for a clinically significant activity in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), haemorrhoids and post-operative oedema. In one controlled trial aescin was shown to be as effective as compression therapy as an alternative to medical treatment for CVI. The therapeutic benefit is well supported by a number of experimental investigations in different animal models, indicative of clearcut anti-oedematous, anti-inflammatory and venotonic properties, mainly related to the molecular mechanism of the agent, allowing improved entry of ions into channels, thus raising venous tension in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Other mechanisms, i.e. release of PGF2 from veins, antagonism to 5-HT and histamine, reduced catabolism of tissue mucopolysaccharides, further underline the wide ranging mechanisms of the therapeutic activity of aescin. Aescin exists in two forms, α and β. β-aescin (b-escin) appears to be the active component of the mixture and is the molecular form present in major available pharmaceutical products. Beta-aescin has cytotoxic activity toward human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines.