Inosine is a naturally occurring nucleoside which serves as an intermediate in purine metabolism. The metabolism of purines in humans generates a potent antioxidant compound, uric acid, which is known to be a natural scavenger of both oxygen and nitrogen reactive species as well as having chelator properties. Inosine, as a precursor of uric acid, was shown to have neuroprotective effect in vitro and is being tested in phase III of clinical trials for the treatment of Parkinson disease. The treatment with inosine is belived to prevent or slow the disease.

Adenosine is a nucleoside that is composed of adenine and d-ribose, occurring in all cells of the body and play many important biological roles in addition to being components of DNA and RNA. Adenosine itself is a neurotransmitter. Adenocard (adenosine injection) is used as an initial treatment for the termination of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PVST), including that associated with accessory bypass tracts (Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome). When clinically advisable, appropriate vagal maneuvers. Adenocard does not convert atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, or ventricular tachycardia to normal sinus rhythm. In the presence of atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation, a transient modest slowing of ventricular response may occur immediately following Adenocard administration. Adenosine slows conduction time through the A-V node, can interrupt the reentry pathways through the A-V node, and can restore normal sinus rhythm. This effect may be mediated through the drug's activation of cell-surface A1 and A2 adenosine receptors. Adenocard is antagonized competitively by methylxanthines such as caffeine and theophylline, and potentiated by blockers of nucleoside transport such as dipyridamole. Adenocard is not blocked by atropine. Adenosine also inhibits the slow inward calcium current and activation of adenylate cyclase in smooth muscle cells, thereby causing relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. By increasing blood flow in normal coronary arteries with little or no increase in stenotic arteries, adenosine produces a relative difference in thallous (thallium) chloride TI 201 uptake in myocardium supplied by normal verus stenotic coronary arteries.