Betanin (betanidin-5-O-beta-glucoside, Beetroot Red) is a red glycosidic food dye obtained from beets. Betanin is the most common betacyanin in the plant kingdom. According to the regulation on food additives betanin is permitted quantum satis as a natural red food colorant (E162). Moreover, betanin is used as colorant in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Recently, potential health benefits of betalains and betalain-rich foods (e.g. red beet, Opuntia sp.) have been discussed. Betanin is a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and exhibits gene-regulatory activity partly via nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2-(Nrf2) dependent signaling pathways. Betanin may induce phase II enzymes and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Furthermore, betanin possibly prevents LDL oxidation and DNA damage. Potential blood pressure lowering effects of red beet seem to be mainly mediated by dietary nitrate rather than by betanin per se.

Roxifiban (also known as DMP754), a potent antiplatelet agent in inhibiting platelet aggregation, and has a high specificity and affinity for human platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex (GPIIb/IIIa) receptors. Roxifiban participated in clinical trials phase III for the treatment of peripheral arterial disorders. This drug was also well tolerated in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris and was studied in the treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and thrombosis. However, the development of this drug appears to have been discontinued.

Gantofiban (or EMD 122 347) is an oral double prodrug of the drug, EMD 132338 and is GPIIb/IIIa antagonist. The drug participated in phase II clinical trials in Japan in patients with thrombosis. However, in May 2004, Yamanouchi, the developing company, announced that the study was discontinued. Besides gantofiban was involved in phase II trials, like a treatment option in patients with the acute coronary syndrome. However, further information is not available.

Carafiban is orally active heterocyclic peptide mimetics fibrinogen IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist with antithrombotic activity. Carafiban is a prodrug, that underwent metabolic transformation to active metabolite des-ethyl- Carafiban, that inhibited dose-dependently and reversibly human platelet aggregation. In conscious dogs, Carafiban showed a high plasma availability of the active moiety of 42±8% and a plasma half-life of 9.9 h after oral administration as measured by bioassay. Carafiban may potentially be used for chronic treatment and prophylaxis of thrombotic diseases in humans.

Sibrafiban (G-7453) is the orally administered, nonpeptide, double-prodrug of Ro 44-3888 which is a selective glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist. Sibrafiban is a double prodrug that undergoes bioconversion to the inactive prodrug Ro 48-3656 and to the active IIb/IIIa antagonist, Ro 44-3888, after oral administration. Sibrafiban was undergoing clinical trials for secondary prevention of cardiac events in patients stabilised after acute coronary syndromes. Sibrafiban has been shown to have comparable efficacy to aspirin in preventing recurrent ischemic events in patients suffering from acute coronary syndromes. Sibrafiban was under development by Genentech and Hoffmann-La Roche, and in phase III trials as an antithrombotic. The development of sibrafiban was discontinued in 1999 following unfavorable Phase III efficacy data.