Swainsonine is an indolizidine alkaloid found in Australian Swainsona canescens, North American plants of the genera Astragalus and Oxytropis and also in the fungus Rhizoctonia leguminocola. It is competitive inhibitor of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II and lysosomal alpha-mannosidases. This compound has been reported to be a potent antiproliferative and immunomodulatory agent. However, no evidence of anti-tumor activity of swainsonine was seen in phase II clinical trial, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Adverse events such as fatigue, nausea and diarrhea were common but generally mild. Swainsonine is locoweed toxin. Locoweed poisoning is seen throughout the world and annually costs the livestock industry millions of dollars. Swainsonine inhibits lysosomal alpha-mannosidase and Golgi mannosidase II. Poisoned animals are lethargic, anorexic, emaciated, and have neurologic signs that range from subtle apprehension to seizures.

Nisterime is a dihydrotestosterone derivative. Nisterime acetate (ORF-9326) was shown to inhibit implantation in several species. It is also interrupts the postimplantation stage of gestation.

Metergotamine (MY-25 or 1-methyl-ergotamine-bitartrate) is a derivative of ergotamine and belongs to peptide alkaloids. It exerts a dampening effect on vessels, in that relaxation is brought about in contracted vessels, whereas contraction is brought in dilated vessels. Metergotamine was being studied in migraine prophylaxis.

Dexclamol is a sedative agent. It was found to potentiate the anesthetic actions of halothane. In potentiating the effects of halothane, dexclamol behaved both qualitatively and quantitatively in a manner similar to droperidol. Dexclamol, however, was approximately 37 times less potent than droperidol in antagonizing the vasopressor effects of epinephrine. The neuroleptic agent (+)-dexclamol, but not (-)-dexclamol, affects central dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) turnover and indicates a stereochemical specificity with respect to antagonism of central DA and NE receptors. Dexclamol was as effective as droperidol at the same dose in inducing neurolepsy and in supplementing nitrous oxide anaesthesia. Changes in heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature in the animals treated with dexclamol were not different from those observed in the animals treated with droperidol.

Detajmium bitartrate anhydrous is Rauwolfia alkaloid. It is a sodium-channel-blocking drug with an extremely long recovery from use-dependent sodium channel block. Detajmium has antiarrhythmic properties. It caused comparable prolongations of the intraventricular conduction time during sinus rhythm and progressively broadened the QRS complex. Rauwolfia alkaloids use is restricted by serious adverse effects, such as dysrhytmias. Several detajmium bitartrate lethal intoxications were reported.

Cyprolidol is a pyridylcyclopropane derivative, developed by Neisler Laboratories. In animal models, cyprolidol produced an antidepressant effect qualitatively similar to those produced by imipramine. The compound blocked the tyramine-induced rise in blood pressure only in anesthetized dogs but potentiated it in conscious dogs. In man, cyprolidol was less effective than imipramine.

Mergocriptine (2-methyl-a-ergocryptine or CBM36-733) is a synthetic long-acting ergot derivative. It exerts agonistic action at dopamine receptors. Mergocryptine may induce the suppression of striatal dopamine turnover by reducing dopamine release via the stimulation of presynaptic dopaminergic autoreceptors. In animal experiments, it may affect cerebral hemodynamics. Mergocriptine has a protective effect on the brain against ischemia.

Tosifen was synthesized originally in a series of compounds whose basic structural moiety, the sulfonyl urea nucleus, was of interest for potential hypoglycemic action. But tosifen is only a weak hypoglycemic agent. It is a potential antianginal and antiarrhythmic agent. The duration of action of tosifen was considerably longer than nitroglycerin and its lack of side effects considerably greater than propranolol. No long-term harmful effects have been observed during 13-week toxicity studies in animals. Tosifen differed from standard antianginal agents which may act via beta-adrenergic blocking activity or alteration of cardiac or circulatory dynamics since no acute pharmacological changes were observed after tosifen was administered. Tosifen was readily absorbed in both rats and dogs. The rates of absorption, metabolism, and urinary excretion were higher in the rat than in the dog.

LEVOFENFLURAMINE is a levorotatory enantiomer of fenfluramine, a substituted amphetamine which was formerly used to treat obesity. LEVOFENFLURAMINE has dopamine-antagonistic properties and, at high doses, increases dopamine concentrations in rat striatal dialysates. It is essentially inactive to reduce food intake in human subjects.