Beraprost is an analog of prostacyclin in which the unstable enol-ether has been replaced by a benzofuran ether function. This modification increases the plasma half-life from 30 seconds to several hours, and permits the compound to be taken orally. Doses of 20-100 µg in humans, given 1 to 3…

A colchicine derivative that inhibits tubulin polymerization (IC₅₀ = 2.1 μM) with low toxicity; suppresses microtubule dynamicity, inhibits cell migration, blocks microtubule assembly, and arrests cells in metaphase; used to synchronize cells and for karyotyping in cytogenetic studies.

A selective allosteric inhibitor of Bcr-Abl (IC₅₀s = 4.52, 0.38, and 0.93 µM against Bcr-Abl mutants G250E, E255V, and M351T, respectively); displays additive inhibitory activity against T315I Bcr-Abl mutants both in in vitro assays and in a recalcitrant T315I Bcr-Abl mutant mouse…

A dihydropyridine L-type calcium channel blocker that selectively inhibits calcium influx in cardiac and vascular smooth muscle; inhibits calcium-induced contractions in depolarized rat aorta (IC₅₀ = 1.9 nM), displaying a slow rate of association and dissociation in isolated vascular and…

An orally active broad spectrum antifungal agent that blocks ergosterol biosynthesis by inhibiting the fungal CYP isoform CYP51; potently inhibits the mammalian analog CYP51A1 (IC₅₀ = 63.5 nM), as well as a variety of other CYP isoforms.

A cyanobacterial toxin that targets protein and glutathione synthesis in hepatocytes (IC50s = 1.3 and 2.4 µM, respectively), inhibits uridine monophosphate synthase complex activity (Ki = 10 µM), and induces DNA damage.

A natural type B trichothecene produced by certain species of the fungus Fusarium; inhibits protein biosynthesis, binds to peptidyl transferase, and inhibits the synthesis of RNA and DNA; passes the blood-brain barrier at different rates in different animals.

An indole diterpene which potently and reversibly inhibits large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels, as shown in patch clamp (Ki = 1.9 nM) and whole smooth muscle cell studies (Ki = 35.7 nM).

A non-selective NSAID exhibiting IC50 values of 0.5 and 2.33 µM for human recombinant COX-1 and COX-2, respectively.

An agonist of α2 adrenergic receptors (Ki = 194 nM); used for sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia in non-human mammals.

An analog of 1,24-dihydroxy vitamin D3 which, when used in a 4 μg/g ointment, suppresses psoriasis; inhibits the growth of both normal and psoriatic human keratinocytes (IC50 ~ 10 nM) via the vitamin D receptor; suppresses the production of RANTES and IL-8 by human dermal fibroblasts.

A neuroexcitatory amino acid that functions as a NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist; used to induce brain lesions in animal models of cognitive dysfunction.

A selective non-peptide inhibitor of CXCR2, inhibiting IL-8 binding to CXCR2 (IC₅₀ = 22 nM).

A benzothiazole derivative with anti-excitotoxic effects that acts by blocking the presynaptic release of glutamate, indirectly antagonizing glutamate receptors, and inactivating neuronal voltage-gated Na+ channels (ED50 = 2.3 μM); suppresses glutamate-induced seizures in rats (ED₅₀ =…

(S)-Naproxen is a non-selective COX inhibitor. The IC₅₀ values for human recombinant COX-1 and -2 are 0.6-4.8 µM and 2.0-28.4 µM, respectively.

A nitrogen mustard β-chloro-nitrosourea compound used as an alkylating agent to form interstrand crosslinks in DNA, which leads to cancer cell cytotoxity and apoptosis; also reported to inhibit glutathione reductase, thioredoxin reductase, and lipoamide dehydrogenase.

A cell-permeable, stable free radical that is commonly used to evaluate the ability of compounds to act as free radical scavengers or hydrogen donors and to measure the antioxidant activity of tissue extracts; followed by color change from purple (absorbance at 515-528 nm) to yellow.

A classical inhibitor of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, inhibiting NADH/DB oxidoreductase and NADH oxidase with IC₅₀ values of 28.8 and 5.1 nM, respectively; used in animal models of Parkinson’s disease.

Pargyline is an irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase (MAO) that is used clinically to treat moderate hypertension. At 10 mg/kg iv, pargyline induces a moderate decrease of systolic blood pressure in unanaesthetized hypertensive rats but not normotensive WKR or Sprague-Daley rats. The…

An inhibitor of protein synthesis in eukaryotes (IC₅₀ = 5-50 μM) that functions by interfering with translational elongation; can either induce or inhibit apoptosis depending on cell type.

A protein cross-linking agent isolated from G. jasminoides Ellis; inhibits UCP2 activity; 5 µM genipin increases glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in isolated pancreatic islets chronically exposed to high levels of glucose; induces apoptosis in FaO rat hepatoma cells and human…

A non-selective COX inhibitor with IC₅₀ values for ovine COX-1 and -2 of 0.1 and 6 µM, respectively; IC₅₀ values for human recombinant COX-1 and -2 are 1.67 and 24.6 µM, respectively.

A tricyclic antidepressant that inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine and acts as an antagonist at histamine, serotonin, adrenergic, and muscarinic receptors with Ki values in the nanomolar range.

Myriocin is an amino fatty acid antibiotic derived from certain thermophylic fungi, in this case Mycelia sterilia. It is a potent immunosuppressant having 10- to 100-fold more activity than cyclosporin A. Myriocin is a potent inhibitor of serine palmitoyltransferase (Ki = 0.28 nM), the enzyme that…

A selective inhibitor of ABHD6 (IC₅₀ = 10 nM) with negligible activity against other serine hydrolases such as DAGLβ; used both as a probe to study ABHD6 and as a negative control for studies of DAGLβ.

A noncompetitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist with preferential activity at the α3β4 subtype (IC₅₀ = 90-640 nM) compared to α4β2, α3β2, and α7 subtypes (IC₅₀s range from 1-7 μM).

An antibacterial and coccidiostat compound that shows selective toxicity for HMLER breast cancer stem cells (IC₅₀ = ~24 μM); 8 μM treatment of 4T1 and MCF-7-Ras breast cancer cell lines decreases cancer stem cell growth ~2-fold and ~3-fold, respectively; 5 mg/kg inhibits mammary…

A potent, selective antagonist of TRPV4 channels, blocking the influx of calcium induced by the TRPV4 agonist GSK634775 with IC₅₀ values of 2, 5, and 40 nM for rat, mouse, and human isoforms, respectively; effective in vivo, as it resolves pulmonary edema resulting from myocardial…

A cyclododecadepsipeptide potassium-selective ionophore antibotic; induces apoptosis in several cell tyes, including CHO cells, by stimulating potassium efflux.

A potent uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria that disrupts ATP synthesis by transporting protons across cell membranes.

A dihydropyridine L-type calcium channel antagonist that displays antihypertensive and antianginal activity; selectively inhibits adenosine A3 receptors (Ki = 3.25 µM) and CYP3A4 catalytic activity (IC₅₀ = 0.148 µM); activates TRPA1 channels, producing an increase in Ca2+…

A thio analog of the purine base guanine that incorporates into DNA during replication, inducing double-strand breaks that destabilize its structure and result in cytotoxicity; used as a chemotherapeutic for acute leukemia and other types of cancer, including BRCA2-mutated tumors.