A benzoxazolone derivative that causes skeletal muscle relaxation and blocks spasticity in clinical studies; enhances KCa2.2 and KCa3.1 channels (EC₅₀s = 87 and 98 µM, respectively); urinary excretion of its 6-hydroxy metabolite is often used as a probe of CYP2E1 activity in…

Commonly used as a pH indicator, a color marker in agarose or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and a dye to detect proteins and nucleic acids (absorbance at 610 nm), particularly when staining living tissues.

L-Citrulline is a by product of NO formation from metabolism of L-arginine that exhibits tocolytic and antioxidative activities. L-Citrulline was originally found in watermelon. In isolated rat uteri, L-citrulline decreases uterine contractile force through stimulation of the NO-cGMP relaxant…

Lecithin is the major membrane phospholipid in eukaryotic cells. In addition to being the major structural component of cellular membranes, it serves as a reservoir for several lipid messengers. It is the source of the bioactive lipids lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol,…

A broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic that inhibits protein synthesis in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

A common 16-carbon saturated fatty acid that represents 10-20% of the normal human dietary fat intake.

A natural form of vitamin A that is thermally more stable than retinol; can reduce cell proliferation and promote differentiation.

A precursor to Vitamin K2 that is capable of both redox cycling and arylating nucleophilic substrates by Michael addition; used as an antihemorrhagic agent and to inhibit the proliferation of various cancer cells.

A stain that permits the rapid, reversible detection of proteins immobilized on various matrices; used to locate proteins or evaluate efficiency of transfer, or an alternative to actin probing as a loading control; also used as a fiducial marker in mass spectrometric imaging.

Aminoguanidine is equipotent to L-NMMA and L-NNA as an inhibitor of iNOS. The IC₅₀ values for inhibition of mouse iNOS and rat nNOS are 5.4 and 160 µM, respectively. Aminoguanidine also inhibits induction of iNOS protein expression by endotoxin in rat macrophages.

An antibacterial antibiotic that acts by interfering directly with the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan, which constitutes the major component of the bacterial cell wall, leading to structural instability and death of bacteria; used as a selective antibiotic for resistant bacteria.

A naturally occurring O-methylated phenolic acid that can be enzymatically degraded by some bacteria as a source of methane or methanol; inhibits aldose reductase (IC₅₀ = 213 µg/ml), proteasome activity, and cancer cell proliferation.

A broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic that is active against gastrointestinal parasites (IC₅₀ = 0.30 µM against Giardia in vitro) by targeting tubulin; activates HIF-1α, abrogating oxidative stress-induced death in primary neurons in vitro.

A dye that is commonly used in laboratories to stain or quantify proteins; typically gives blue bands on a clear background with a sensitivity of 50-100 ng/band; displays metachromasia by appearing pink-red, rather than blue, when binding certain proteins, such as collagen and histone H1.

An inhibitor of fibrinolysis that blocks the interaction of plasmin with fibrin (IC₅₀ = 3.1 µM).

A short chain fatty acid that inhibits HDACs, induces growth arrest, differentiation and apoptosis in cancer cells, and suppresses inflammation by reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

A flavonoid compound found in the bark and rinds of many plants and fruits.

A metabolic precursor of dopamine that crosses the blood brain barrier; used to treat Parkinson’s disease and stroke damage.

A non-selective blocker of voltage-dependent K+-channels (Kv channels) that has greatest potency at Kv1 and Kv3 family members (IC₅₀s = 290, 590, 195, 13, 29, and 100 µM for subunits 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 3.1, and 3.2, respectively); also blocks Kv2 and Kv4 subunits at millimolar concentrations.

A non-selective, irreversible COX inhibitor with IC₅₀ values of 0.75 and 1.25 mM for ovine COX-1 and COX-2, respectively.

A derivative of thiouracil which has long been used to correct hyperthyroidism; also used as a genetic marker for taste, since only some people detect it as a bitter taste.

A dye used to stain proteins for IEF and SDS-PAGE; fluoresces near infrared (absorption maximum: 624 nm).

A mixture of proteolytic enzymes derived from the stem and fruit of pineapple plants; studied for a number of potential beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, fibrinolytic, and anti-cancer functions.

Guaiacol is a phenolic natural product first isolated from Guaiac resin and the oxidation of lignin. Guaiacol is readily oxidized by the heme iron of peroxidases including the peroxidase of COX enzymes. It can therefore serve as a reducing co-substrate for COX reactions. The one-electron oxidation…

A triazole-containing plant growth retardant that is known to inhibit the biosynthesis of gibberellins.

An alcoholic β-glucoside derived from willow bark that produces anti-inflammatory (including analgesic and antipyretic) effects similar to that of aspirin by non-selectively inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 (IC₅₀s > 100 µM).

β-estradiol is a potent mammalian estrogenic hormone produced by the ovary. Triggers the production of gonadotropins leading to ovulation. β-Estradiol is used to study cell differentiation and transformations (tumorigenicity). The pharmacology and HPLC determination of β-Estradiol…

Caffeine is a well-known drug commonly used as a mild stimulant, found in dietary sources such as coffee, tea, and cocoa. A central nervous system stimulant believed to act through adenosine receptors and monoamine neurotransmitters. It is an adenosine receptor antagonist and adenosine…

A trihydroxybenzoic acid that demonstrates antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH• and HO• (IC50s = 9.4 and 191 μM, respectively) and inhibiting microsomal lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 1.51 μM).

A common C-12 saturated far plentiful in coconut and other nut oils.

Bromhexine is a synthetic derivative of vasicine that exhibits mucolytic and antioxidative activities. Bromhexine increases production of serous mucus, decreases mucus viscosity, and helps cilia transport mucus out of the lungs. Bromhexine is clinically used to treat respiratory disorders…

A protein phosphatase inhibitor that acts as a phosphate group donor in matrix mineralization studies; 10 mM accelerates calcification of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells through an alkaline phosphatase-related mechanism.