(±)-quinuclidinyl benzilate (3-quinuclidinyl benzilate), is a specific muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist. It binds potently but reversibly to the muscarinic cholinergic receptors of mammalian brain and peripheral tissues. 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate was invented by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc in 1951, while investigating antispasmodic agents resembling tropine for the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions. In the 1960s 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate, was developed and weaponized as a new chemical agent for battlefield use as a psychochemical. Assigned the NATO code BZ it is classified as a hallucinogenic chemical warfare agent that affects both the peripheral and central nervous systems (CNS). It is one of the most potent anticholinergic psychomimetics known, with only small doses necessary to produce incapacitation. The primary route of absorption is through the respiratory system but absorption also can occur through the skin or gastrointestinal tract. BZ is odorless and is usually disseminated as an aerosol. Data regarding the health effects of BZ in humans following inhalation exposure are limited to military application studies. Pharmacologic activity of 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate is similar to other anticholinergic drugs (eg, atropine) but with a much longer duration of action. It was shown that I[3H]-3-quinuclidinyl benzilate accumulated in various brain regions after intravenous injection. The specific binding of [3-3H]3-quinuclidinyl-benzilate and [125I]3-quinuclidinyl-(3-iodo-4-hydroxy-benzilate) to rat brain subcellular fractions is parallel in myelin, synaptic plasma membrane and mitochondrial fractions with a 3-4-fold enrichment observed in synaptic plasma membrane over crude mitochondrial fractions. These findings suggested the use of 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate as a binding probe useful in assaying low levels of muscarinic receptor in tissue culture and other biological sources including labeling the receptor in vivo for autoradiographic studies. M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M2 receptor), essential for the physiologic control of cardiovascular function through activation of G protein-coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium channels, was shown to bind 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate with high affinity in vitro.

Monophosphothiamine is thiamine derivative used for the treatment of neuritis, polyneuritis, asthenic conditions (weakness), as an additional remedy for chronic blood circulation insufficiency, chronic gastritis accompanied by motor and secretory disorders functions of the stomach. Monophosphothiamine underwent metabolic phosphorylation to active metabolite thiamine pyrophosphate, that acts as a coenzyme in the different metabolic process.

Acifran (AY-25,712), an uncommercialized Ayerst compound exerting lipid-lowering activity in vivo, has been shown to also elicit similar effects as niacin in preliminary clinical testing and has been shown to bind to both high affinity (HM74A; GPR109A) and low affinity (HM74; GPR109B) niacin receptors. The EC50 values of the separated acifran enantiomers for the GPR109a and 109b receptors showed that, as with acifran itself, the (+)-enantiomers were essentially twice as active as the racemic mixtures, whereas the activity of the (-)-enantiomers was more variable and highly dependent on purity. S-enantiomer of acifran is the active principle. All of the activity of racemic acifran could be attributed to the (S)-enantiomer, and hence, from this precedent, (+)-enantiomers would be assigned to the S-configuration. However, the absolute configuration was not confirmed experimentally.

Nastorazepide (Z-360) is a selective, orally available, gastrin/cholecystokinin 2 (CCK-2) receptor antagonist with potential antineoplastic activity. Z-360 binds to the gastrin/CCK-2 receptor, thereby preventing receptor activation by gastrin, a peptide hormone frequently associated with the proliferation of gastrointestinal and pancreatic tumor cells. It is currently under development as a therapeutic drug for pancreatic cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcers. The most commonly reported adverse events were nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fatigue.

XK-469 (2-[4-(7-chloro-2-quinoxalinyloxy)phenoxy]-propionic acid) is a novel synthetic quinoxaline phenoxypropionic acid derivative. The R-isomer of XK-469 was approximately twice as effective as the S-isomer of XK-469R. R( )-isomers induce reversible protein DNA crosslinks in mammalian cells. It acts as a selective topoisomerase IIβ inhibitor. A phase I study was performed to determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of XK-469, (R)- in patients with various neoplasms.

Bryostatin 1 is a macrocyclic lactone which can be isolated from the marine bryozoan, Bugula neritina. The effects of bryostatin 1 are attributed to its ability to selectively modulate the activity of two of the three subgroups of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes. PKC isozymes are divided into three subgroups which differ in their molecular structures and co-factor requirements: classical PKC (cPKC), novel PKC (nPKC), and atypical PKC (aPKC). Bryostatin-1 modulates nPKC activity independent of a Ca2+ signaling. It activates cPKC only when associated with Ca2+ signaling. And, aPKC activity is not sensitive to bryostatin-1 administration. Ca2+ signals play an important role in synaptic transmission and information processing which creates a biological environment where Bryostatin-1 possesses a unique action profile. Bryostatin-1 will not affect cPKC activity in neurons which are not functioning as an active part of the signaling processing circuit with significant Ca2+influx and intracellular Ca2+ release. Bryostatin 1 is in phase II clinical trials for investigation as an anticancer agent; specifically for treatment of metastatic or recurrent head and neck cancer, ovarian epithelial cancer that has not responded to previous chemotherapy, and myelodysplastic syndrome. Bryostatin 1 has also generated interest as an investigational compound for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Haloxyfop-p-methyl ester, a selective herbicide, is used to control a wide range of annual and perennial grass weeds in broad-leaved crops, such as legume, cotton, peanut, rape, and vegetables