Pharmaceutical Intermediates

L-Lactic acid is the biologically active isomer of Lactic Acid. In animals, it is constantly produced from pyruvate via the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in a process of fermentation during normal metabolism and exercise. It can also be used to create biodegradable polymers.

L-Rhamnose monohydrate is a deoxy sugar in plants and bacteria. It is a component of plant cell walls that helps maintain structure.

Sorbose is a ketose belonging to the group of sugars known as monosaccharides. L-Sorbose is the configuration of the naturally-occurring sugar and has a sweetness equivalent to that of sucrose. L-Sorbose is often used as a starting reagent for the biosynthesis of ascorbic acid and forms a colorless, clear solution when dissolved in water.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid in the human diet. Its functions as a serotonin precursor have increased interest in its ability to treat depression and epilepsy; however, there has been inconclusive evidence in clinical trials regarding its efficacy in humans. Safety has also been a concern.

It is widely used in molecular genetics as an auxotrophic genetic marker in yeast gene disruption experiments.

Lactitol is a disaccharide binding a beta-D-galactopyranose and D-glucitol to produce the sugar alcohol also known as Lactitol. It’s derived from lactose, a product of disaccharide’s glucose being reduced. It has been used as a laxative agent, excipient, and low-calorie artificial sweetener. Other characteristics of Lactitol display antibiotic and prebiotic activity.

Studies have demonstrated Lactitol decreases cholesterol metabolism and can treat liver diseases like hepatic encephalopathy. This function arises from the management of ammonia in the blood following cirrhotic damage to the liver. Revertant bacteria and aberrant cells were not seen to increase with the administration of Lactitol as a therapeutic substance, suggesting no mutagenicity.

Further properties increased bifidobacteria and lactobacilli after Lactitol consumption. One survey also recorded PYY and GLP-1 levels rising with ingestion of Lactitol. In a study on fecal flora, low dosage of Lactitol did not change pH; it also had no effect on the colonization of necessary anaerobes, aerobes or Enterobacteriaceae. These results promote Lactitol’s probiotic qualities.

meso-Erythritol is a compound used in cell culture to differentiate bacteria based on carbohydrate fermentation ability. Erythritol may be a ligand for the T1R3 receptor and is a precursor to L-erythrulose. It is useful in supporting the carbon source growth requirement of Gluconobacter bacteria. It has also been used as a reference material in purification and analysis procedures developed to assay fermentation broths.

Mildronate is a pharmaceutical amino acid amide believed to stimulate vasodilation, thus used to treat angina and myocardial infraction. Chemically, it identifies with aromatic ethers and secondary alcohols. It is a substrate for γ-butyrobetaine dioxygenase and structural analogue of γ-butyrobetaine, competitively inhibiting by binding to the γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase substrate.

It is a biological regulator to alpha 2-adrenergic receptors as well as nitric oxide-dependent mechanisms, functions which reduce blood glucose concentrations through oxidation. In ocular and cerebral ischemia, Mildronate decreases symptoms of circulatory disturbance through inhibition of carnitine synthesis.

Myo-Inositol is a vitamin added to promote growth in plant cell culture media. It can also be used to differentiate organisms based on metabolic properties. Myo-inositol is a component of membrane phospholipids.

N-Acetyl-D-galactosamine is an amino sugar and component of many O-linked and N-linked glycan structures. It is a derivative of galactose used to form the antigen for the A blood group. It is a required compound for intercellular communication in the nervous system.

N-acetylneuraminic acid is an N-acyl derivative of neuraminic or acid amino sugar derivative, derived from N-acetylmannosamine and pyruvic acid. It is an important constituent of glycoproteins and glycolipids. N-acetylneuraminic acid occurs in many polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and glycolipids in animals and bacteria.

Nalidixic acid is a naphthyridone antibiotic that is similar in structure and mechanism to quinolones and is effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It acts as a bacteriostatic in lower concentrations but can be bacteriocidal at higher concentrations. Nalidixic acid indirectly inhibits proteins synthesis by binding DNA and interfering with enzymes involved in DNA replication and transcription.

Oxalacetic acid is an essential component of the Krebs cycle where it combines with acetyl-coenzyme A to yield citric acid. Thus, it is a necessary intermediate in the intercyclic pathway between the Embden-Meyerhof cycle and the Krebs cycle. The primary function of these cycles is for the production of energy, and the shunting out of these acids effectively slows the cycle down. Therefore, keto acids, such as pyruvate and oxalacetic, are frequently added to tissue culture media formulations to maintain maximum cell metabolism.

Palatinose, also called isomaltulose, is a dissacharide isomer of sucrose, and a commercially used sugar substitute. Similarly, it is fully digestible and provides the same caloric value as sucrose (approximately 4 cal/g). Palatinose is produced enzymatically from sucrose via bacteria expressing the isomerase isomaltulose synthase.

Palatinose is a low-glycemic and low-insulinemic saccharide. This occurs because the α-1, 6 glycosidic bond between glucose and fructose is hydrolyzed much slower than the α-1-β-2 bond in sucrose. The low-insulinemic attributes of Palatinose supports improved fat oxidation during physical activity as opposed to high insulin levels in sucrose adsorption, which can hinder the use of lipids as an energy source.

Phytic acid, dodecasodium salt is present in all eukaryotic cells and functions as a phosphate storage depot and precursor to inositol phosphates and pyrophosphates in plant species. It is also a chelator of divalent and trivalent cations and acts with nuclear pore protein Gle1 in yeast. Phytic acid is used to determine zinc bioavailability.

Piperonyl butoxide is an insecticide and synthetic inhibitor of cytochrome P450. It is synergistic to pyrethroids and rotenone.

Semicarbazide HCl is a reagent used to produce aldehyde and ketone derivatives. These derivatives are crystalline compounds with specific melting points. Semicarbazide HCl is a nitrofuran metabolite.

Sodium 3-hydroxybutyrate is a biochemical used in proteomics research.

Sodium glucuronate is a sugar derived carboxylic acid involved in glucuronidation, where glucuronic acid is bonded to a molecule, which allows for transport since glucuronate is highly water-soluble. This allows for the delivery of drugs or the removal of toxins from cells. It is used to increase cell toxin removal and to increase drug or hormone delivery to cells. and is one of the precursors to vitamin C.

Pyruvic acid is the simplest alpha-keto acid, and is considered to be key in several metabolic processes. Because pyruvate, which is the carboxylate ion of pyruvic acid, can be converted into carbohydrates, fatty acids or energy, it is a uniting intermediate compound and its fate depends on the organism and environment.

It is produced during glycolysis, and through the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle), it supplies cells with energy. Two molecules of pyruvate are produced from one glucose molecule. Pyruvate is then converted into acetyl-coenzyme A used in the Krebs cycle.

In gluconeogenesis, pyruvic acid can be converted back into glucose or glycogen, and in environments with low oxygen, pyruvic acid is broken down anaerobically into lactic acid.

Clinically, the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio can assist in diagnosing mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders because the ratio is often, but not always elevated in these cases. There is also a lower ratio typically observed in inherited pyruvate metabolic disorders.

Sodium taurocholate is the sodium salt of taurocholic acid, a bile acid composed of cholic acid and taurine. It has many microbiological uses, and is a well-known recipe component of MacConkey agar.

It is also often used to solubilize lipids and membrane proteins, as well as functioning as an activator during studies involving different types of lipases.