Cyclopamine is an inhibitor of hedgehog (Hh) signaling, likely via direct inhibition of Smoothened, the accessory protein to the putative Hh receptor Patched. Cyclopamine is a teratogen isolated from the corn lily that causes usually fatal birth defects. It can prevent the fetal brain from dividing into two lobes (holoprosencephaly) and cause the development of a single eye. Cyclopamine can also be used to induce differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into hormone-expressing endocrine cells. In the very first at any time human affected person with metastatic pancreatic most cancers who was administered intravenous cyclopamine on a compassionate, experimental basis in Germany, cyclopamine had to be discontinued because of emergence of neurologic toxicities and hematologic toxicities. That may possibly severely impede or even prevent scientific trials with this promising therapeutic technique.

Baccatin III is an isolate of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia) and related species. Baccatin III is the precursor to paclitaxel/ taxol. Antileukaemic and antitumor agent, Baccatin III, binds to tubules when they are assembled in the cell and stabilizes the polymerized form of tubules so that they remain assembled even under conditions in which microtubules dissociate into tubulin subunits. Baccatin III is also an inducer of apoptosis and shows antitumor properties in vitro. Baccatin III exerts anti-tumor immunomodulatory activity in very low doses (0.05-0.5mg/kg), although it is regarded as an inactive derivative of paclitaxel. Oral administration of Baccatin III significantly reduced the growth of tumors induced by engrafting BALB/c mice with either 4 T1 mammary carcinoma or CT26 colon cancer cells. Baccatin III reduced tumor progression by inhibiting the accumulation and suppressive function of MDSCs. Baccatin III inhibited cell proliferation of a number of cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic activity exhibited by fungal taxol and Baccatin III involves the same mechanism, dependent on caspase-10 and membrane potential loss of mitochondria, with taxol having far greater cytotoxic potential.

27-Hydroxycholesterol (27-HC) is an endogenous oxysterol produced by the enzyme CYP27A1, with multiple biological functions, including acting as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and as an agonist of the liver X receptor (LXR). Because of its estrogenic action, 27-HC stimulates the growth of ER-positive breast cancer cells and has been implicated in limiting the effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancer.

10-deactyltaxol (10-deacetylpaclitaxel) is a naturally occurring taxane related to taxol (paclitaxel). Taxol is an antitumor drug with cytotoxic properties that correlate with its microtubule-stabilizing activities. When compared to paclitaxel 10-deacetyltaxol is 100% as active as paclitaxel in promoting in vitro microtubule assembly, but is only 30% as cytotoxic as paclitaxel. 10-deactyltaxol is a semi-synthetic precursor of paclitaxel and considered to be paclitaxel impurity. 10-deactyltaxol, isolated from the bark of Taxus brevifolia, was converted into paclitaxel in one composite step (trimethylsilylation, acetylation, and desilylation) and in an overall yield of 80-85%.

Propionic acid (PA), also known as propanoic acid, with chemical formula C3H6O2, is an organic acid used as a food additive and found naturally on the skin and in the gastrointestinal tract. It is a byproduct of fermentation reactions and is also produced industrially from ethylene or ethanol and carbon monoxide. Propionic acid is a fungicide and bactericide, registered to controlfungi and bacteria in stored grains, hay, grain storage areas, poultry litter,and drinking water for livestock and poultry. As a food preservative, propionic acid prevents mold in bread and baked goods, and it is used as a flavoring agent in cheese and other packaged goods. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers it safe and therefore, has no limitation on its use. It has been demonstrated that PA lowers fatty acids content in liver and plasma, reduces food intake, exerts immunosuppressive actions and probably improves tissue insulin sensitivity. Thus increased production of PA by the microbiota might be considered beneficial in the context of prevention of obesity and diabetes type 2. The molecular mechanisms by which PA may exert this plethora of physiological effects are slowly being elucidated and include intestinal cyclooxygenase enzyme, the G-protein coupled receptors 41 and 43 and activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, in turn inhibiting the sentinel transcription factor NF-κB and thus increasing the threshold for inflammatory responses in general. Taken together, PA emerges as a major mediator in the link between nutrition, gut microbiota and physiology. The sodium salt of propionic acid was previously approved in Canada as an active ingredient in Amino-Cerv (used to treat inflammation or injury of the cervix).

Farnesol, (2E,6E)- is an isoprenoid found in many aromatic plants and is also produced in humans, where it acts on numerous nuclear receptors and has received considerable attention due to its apparent anticancer properties. Farnesol is present in many essential oils such as citronella, neroli, cyclamen, lemon grass, tuberose, rose, musk, balsam, and tolu. It is used in perfumery to emphasize the odors of sweet floral perfumes. Its method of action for enhancing perfume scent is as a co-solvent that regulates the volatility of the odorants. It is especially used in lilac perfumes. Farnesol is a natural pesticide for mites and is a pheromone for several other insects. In a 1994 report released by five top cigarette companies, farnesol was listed as one of 599 additives to cigarettes. Farnesol has been suggested to function as a chemopreventative and anti-tumor agent. Farnesol is subject to restrictions on its use in perfumery as some people may become sensitized to it, however, the evidence that farnesol can cause an allergic reaction in humans is disputed.

Squalene is a naturally occurring polyprenyl compound primarily known for its key role as an intermediate in cholesterol synthesis. It received its name because of its occurrence in shark liver oil (Squalus spp.), which contains large quantities and is considered the richest source of squalene. However, it is widely distributed in nature, with reasonable amounts found in olive oil, palm oil, wheat-germ oil, amaranth oil, and rice bran oil. The primary therapeutic use of squalene currently is as an adjunctive therapy in a variety of cancers. Although epidemiological, experimental and animal evidence suggests anti-cancer properties, to date no human trials have been conducted to verify the role this nutrient might have in cancer therapy regimens.

Glycocholic acid (GCA) is an important metabolite of bile acids, a conjugate of cholic acid with glycine. GCA urine levels are expected to be a specific diagnostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The average GCA concentrations of HCC patients in plasma and urine were about 25 and 2.8 times than that of healthy volunteers.