Epicriptine or beta-dihydroergocryptine is a dopamine agonist of the ergoline class. It constitutes one third of the mixture known as dihydroergocryptine, the other two thirds consisting of alpha-dihydroergocryptine. The alpha differs from the beta form only in the position of a single methyl group, which is a consequence of the biosynthesis in which the proteinogenic amino acid isoleucine is replaced by leucine. Mesylate salt of dihydro-β-ergocryptine is an active part of the drug: Ergoloid Mesylate, which is used for treatment of symptoms of an idiopathic decline in mental capacity (i.e., cognitive and interpersonal skills, mood, self-care, apparent motivation) can experience some symptomatic relief upon treatment with ergoloid mesylates preparations.

Kainic acid (kainate) is a natural marine acid present in some seaweed. Kainic acid is a potent neuroexcitatory amino acid that acts by activating receptors for glutamate, the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Kainic acid is commonly injected into laboratory animal models to study the effects of experimental ablation. Kainic acid is a direct agonist of the glutamic kainate receptors and large doses of concentrated solutions produce immediate neuronal death by overstimulating neurons to death. Such damage and death of neurons is referred to as an excitotoxic lesion. Thus, in large, concentrated doses kainic acid can be considered a neurotoxin, and in small doses of dilute solution kainic acid will chemically stimulate neurons. Kainic acid is utilised in primary neuronal cell cultures and acute brain slice preparations [5] to study of the physiological effect of excitotoxicity and assess the neuroprotective capabilities of potential therapeutics. Kainic acid is a potent central nervous system excitant that is used in epilepsy research to induce seizures in experimental animals, at a typical dose of 10–30 mg/kg in mice. In addition to inducing seizures, kainic acid is excitotoxic and epileptogenic. Kainic acid induces seizures via activation of kainate receptors containing the GluK2 subunit and also through activation of AMPA receptors, for which it serves as a partial agonist.

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.

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.

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.