Aldolase is used in an hydrazine assay based on Boyer's modification in which 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde reacts with hydrazine to form a hydrazone which absorbs at 240 nm.

Crocetin is a natural carotenoid dicarboxylic acid that is found in the crocus flower and Gardenia jasminoides. Crocetin was found to inhibit cell cycle progression at the G2-M phase and pancreatic tumor formation in nude mice. It has been shown to improve postshock recovery of cellular…

Etoposide is an important chemotherapeutic agent that is used to treat a wide spectrum of human cancers. It also belongs to the drug type plant alkaloid. The primary cytotoxic target for etoposide is topoisomerase II. This ubiquitous enzyme regulates DNA under- and overwinding, and removes knots…

Muscimol is a structural analog of γ-amino butyric acid. It functions as a GABA-agonist: a positive analog of the natural transmitter, which can activate GABA receptors in the brain. Muscimol is an isoxazole derivative occurring naturally in the mushroom Amanita muscaria. Muscimol has been…

Limonin is a natural compound found in grapefruit and other citrus seeds. Limonin is a triterpenoid aglycone that is a bitter principle of citrus fruits. It has been shown to inhibit chemically induced carcinogenesis and demonstrates anti feedant properties. Limonin may be used in assays to…

Insulin is the primary polypeptide hormone responsible for controlling the cellular uptake, utilization and storage of glucose, amino acids and fatty acids while inhibiting the breakdown of glycogen, protein and fat. It is produced by pancreatic beta cells. Methods for immobilizing insulin on…

Chymostatin is a reversible protease inhibitor, inhibiting chymotrypsin, chymotrypsin-like serine proteases, chymases and lysosomal cysteine proteinases such as cathepsins B, H and L. It weakly inhibits human leucocyte elastase. It is effective at a final concentration of 100-200 ug/mL (10 to 100…

Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid that induces the production of phospholipase A2 inhibitory protein (lipocortin). It also inhibits induction of nitric oxide synthase (IC50=5 nM). Dexamethasone has been shown to cause reduction in cyclin A and Cdk2 activity, inhibition of G1/S…

Forskolin is the major diterpene isolated from the Indian plant Coleus forskohlii. At low doses, forskolin is a positive inotropic agent in dogs, cats, spontaneously hypertensive and normal rats and in an isolated guinea pig heart (Langendorf) preparation. At higher doses, forskolin is a…

Cafestol is a diterpene molecule present in coffee. Cafestol is a natural extract which induces glutathione S-transferase. It is used to study mechanisms of anti-oxidation related to hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress and DNA damage. Cafestol acts as a GST(glutathione S-transferase)…