Glucose Metabolism

Forskolin (Coleonol) is a potent adenylate cyclase activator with an IC₅₀ of 41 nM and an EC₅₀ of 0.5 μM for type I adenylyl cyclase. Forskolin is also an inducer of intracellular cAMP formation. Forskolin induces differentiation of various cell types and activates pregnane X receptor (PXR) and FXR. Forskolin exerts a inotropic effect on the heart, and has platelet antiaggregatory and antihypertensive actions. Forskolin also induces autophagy.

Laduviglusib (CHIR-99021) is a potent, selective and orally active GSK-3α/β inhibitor with IC₅₀s of 10 nM and 6.7 nM. Laduviglusib shows >500-fold selectivity for GSK-3 over CDC2, ERK2 and other protein kinases. Laduviglusib is also a potent Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activator. Laduviglusib enhances mouse and human embryonic stem cells self-renewal. Laduviglusib induces autophagy.

IBMX is a broad-spectrum phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, with IC₅₀s of 6.5, 26.3 and 31.7 μM for PDE3, PDE4 and PDE5, respectively.

Venetoclax (ABT-199; GDC-0199) is a highly potent, selective and orally bioavailable Bcl-2 inhibitor with a K_i of less than 0.01 nM. Venetoclax induces autophagy.

Metformin (1,1-Dimethylbiguanide) inhibits the mitochondrial respiratory chain in the liver, leading to AMPK activation and enhancing insulin sensitivity, and can be used in the study of type 2 diabetes. Metformin exerts central glucose-lowering effects by inhibiting Ras-related protein 1 (Rap1) in SF1 hypothalamic neurons. Metformin also inhibits liver oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis caused by liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. In addition, Metformin regulates the expression of autophagy-related proteins by activating AMPK and inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway, thereby inducing tumor cell autophagy and inhibiting the growth of renal cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

L-Ascorbic acid (L-Ascorbate), an electron donor, is an endogenous antioxidant agent. L-Ascorbic acid inhibits selectively Ca_v3.2 channels with an IC₅₀ of 6.5 μM. L-Ascorbic acid is also a collagen deposition enhancer and an elastogenesis inhibitor. L-Ascorbic acid exhibits anti-cancer effects through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and selective damage to cancer cells.

Cholesterol (from animal) is the major sterol in mammals. It is making up 20-25% of structural component of the plasma membrane. Plasma membranes are highly permeable to water but relatively impermeable to ions and protons. Cholesterol (from animal) plays an important role in determining the fluidity and permeability characteristics of the membrane as well as the function of both the transporters and signaling proteins. Cholesterol (from animal) is also an endogenous estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) agonist.

Resveratrol (trans-Resveratrol; SRT501) is a CNS-penetrant natural polyphenolic phytoalexin that possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and anti-cancer properties. Resveratrol (SRT 501) has a wide spectrum of targets including mTOR, JAK, β-amyloid, Adenylyl cyclase, IKKβ, DNA polymerase. Resveratrol also is a specific SIRT1 activator. Resveratrol is a potent pregnane X receptor (PXR) inhibitor. Resveratrol is an Nrf2 activator, ameliorates aging-related progressive renal injury in mice model. Resveratrol increases production of NO in endothelial cells.

Osimertinib (AZD9291) is a covalent, orally active, irreversible, and mutant-selective EGFR inhibitor with an apparent IC₅₀ of 12 nM against L858R and 1 nM against L858R/T790M, respectively. Osimertinib overcomes T790M-mediated resistance to EGFR inhibitors in lung cancer.

Rosiglitazone (BRL 49653) is an orally active selective PPARγ agonist (EC₅₀: 60 nM, K_d: 40 nM), with blood-brain barrier permeability. Rosiglitazone is an TRPC5 activator (EC₅₀: 30 μM) and TRPM3 inhibitor. Rosiglitazone can be used in the research of obesity and diabetes, senescence, ovarian cancer.

Etomoxir ((R)-(+)-Etomoxir) is an irreversible inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT-1a), inhibits fatty acid oxidation (FAO) through CPT-1a and inhibits palmitate β-oxidation in human, rat and guinea pig.

Biotin, vitamin B7 and serves as a coenzyme for five carboxylases in humans, involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, isoleucine, and valine, and in gluconeogenesis. Biotin is necessary for cell growth, the production of fatty acids, and the metabolism of fats and amino acids.

Curcumin (Diferuloylmethane), a natural phenolic compound, is a p300/CREB-binding protein-specific inhibitor of acetyltransferase, represses the acetylation of histone/nonhistone proteins and histone acetyltransferase-dependent chromatin transcription. Curcumin is a photosensitizer against microorganisms. Curcumin shows inhibitory effects on NF-κB and MAPKs, and has diverse pharmacologic effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activities. Curcumin induces stabilization of Nrf2 protein through Keap1 cysteine modification.

Capivasertib (AZD5363) is an orally active and potent pan-AKT kinase inhibitor with IC₅₀ of 3, 7 and 7 nM for Akt1,Akt2 and Akt3, respectively.

DHEA (Prasterone) is one of the most abundant steroid hormones. DHEA (Prasterone) mediates its action via multiple signaling pathways involving specific membrane receptors and via transformation into androgen and estrogen derivatives (e.g., androgens, estrogens, 7α and 7β DHEA, and 7α and 7β epiandrosterone derivatives) acting through their specific receptors.

Fosribnicotinamide (β-nicotinamide mononucleotide) is a product of the nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) reaction and a key NAD⁺ intermediate. The pharmacological activities of Fosribnicotinamide include its role in cellular biochemical functions, cardioprotection, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and complications associated with obesity.

Empagliflozin (BI 107730 is a selective sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor with an IC₅₀ of 3.1 nM for human SGLT-2.

PX-478 is a multifunctional HIF-1α inhibitor with properties including radiosensitization, autophagy activation, and lipid accumulation inhibition. PX-478 also blocks hypoxia-induced VEGF production and regulates β-cell phenotypes under hypoxic conditions. PX-478 induces cell cycle arrest and DNA damage, restores autophagic function, reduces foam cell formation, and maintains glucose homeostasis. PX-478 is widely used in research on related diseases such as human tumors (e.g., prostate cancer), type 2 diabetes, and atherosclerosis.

D-Glucose is the naturally occurring form of glucose and the most abundant monosaccharide. D-Glucose is a critical components of the general metabolism, and serve as critical signaling molecules in relation to both cellular metabolic status and biotic or abiotic stress response.

Exendin‑4 (Exenatide) is an orally active, blood-brain barrier-permeable glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP‑1 receptor) agonist that resists degradation mediated by dipeptidyl peptidase IV. Exendin‑4 mediates multiple glucose-regulating effects, including stimulation of glucose-dependent insulin secretion, inhibition of glucagon production, increase in β-cell mass, delay of gastric emptying, reduction of food intake, improvement of peripheral insulin sensitivity, and restoration of normal islet structure. Exendin‑4 inhibits oxidative stress, alleviates inflammatory responses, and reduces neuronal apoptosis. Exendin‑4 reduces the aggregation level of mutant huntingtin, improves motor function, prolongs survival time, and regulates the expression levels of leptin and ghrelin. Exendin‑4 can be used in research related to type 2 diabetes, acute ischemic stroke, and Huntington's disease.