5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a uracil analog that has a fluorine atom on the fifth carbon position. It acts as a strong anti-cancer agent where its metabolization disrupts both RNA and DNA synthesis. 5-FU metabolites, Fluorodeoxyuridine triphosphate (FdUTP) and fluorouridine triphosphate (FUTP), imitate uracil and are incorporated into RNA strands which effectively inhibits further synthesis.

Inhibition of DNA synthesis by 5-FU occurs through thymidylate synthase inhibition. A metabolite produced by 5-FU metabolism, fluorodeoxyuridine triphosphate (FdUTP), bind to the nucleotide binding site of thymidylate synthase. Halting this enzyme’s activity significantly diminishes deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP) production which consequently depletes dTMP within an organism.

Actinomycin D is an antineoplastic antibiotic from Streptomyces species that inhibits cell proliferation by acting as a cytotoxic inducer of apoptosis against tumor cells, binding to DNA and inhibiting RNA polymerase activity. Actinomycin is also used in plant tissue culture to inhibit plant growth through tissue deformation where it also acts as an RNA-synthesis inhibitor. Along with its fluorescent derivative, 7aminoactinomycinD (7-AAD), Actinomycin is used to stain GC-rich regions of DNA for microscopy and flow cytometry applications.

Amygdalin is a glucoside derived from almonds and apricot kernels. While it was originally suggested that amygdalin is an anticancer agent, it is avoided due to its cyanogenic properties. Upon being metabolized by β-glucosidase enzymes, amygdalin produces hydrogen cyanide, which is cytotoxic on tumor cells. Amygdalin is freely soluble in aqueous solution and is used to study cytotoxic effects of cyanide on cancer cells and can be useful in identification and analysis of maltases, emulsins, and β-glucosidases.

Artesunate is a synthetic compound that is highly employed for its anti-malarial capabilities and is currently studied for its applications in oncology research and surgical procedures. In anti-malarial studies, it has been shown to disrupt EXP1 activity, which is a glutathione transferase responsible for cell detoxification in Plasmodium falciparum. Artesunate activity has been shown to be enhanced when co-administered with amodiaquine HCl.

In oncology research, Artesunate is used to arrest cancer growth in the G2/M phase and upregulate proteins p21 and Beclin1. These proteins are mainly related to apoptosis with p21 being a regulator of the process and Beclin1 playing a role in cell death by autophagy. Artesunate has also been shown to form an endoperoxide bridge which generates carbon radicals that dismantle the cell. However, the observed radical formation is dose and time dependent.

Artesunate has been shown to provide organ damage reduction in rats exposed to hemorrhagic shock. Administration of ART occurred after resuscitation and did not function as a preventative. Artesunate operates by decreasing cell apoptosis through protein kinase B (PKB) stimulation and glycogen synthase kinase inhibition. Cell survival is also enhanced by nuclear factor kappa B (NfkB) suppression, diminishing proinflammatory cytokine synthesis.

Bithionol is an anti-parasitic compound used for oncology research and molecular biology research. It induces apoptosis in cancerous cells occurs through activating proteolytic caspases. These caspases inactivate PARP-1(Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1) which triggers an intrinsic pathway for apoptosis. Intrinsic apoptotic pathways result in compromising mitochondria and in this case by decreasing transmembrane potential. Reactive oxygen species then accumulate and rupture the mitochondria, releasing cytochrome c an apoptotic inducer.

Bithionol has been used to better understand enzyme allosteric regulation and the mechanism of soluble adenylyl cyclase inhibition, a bicarbonate sensor. Bithionol has been shown to occupy the bicarbonate binding site on soluble adenylyl cyclase. It has also been utilized in research to elucidate the role of mitochondrial potassium channels in preventing ischemia reperfusion injuries in mice.

C-390 is an antibacterial agent which is used for selective isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from other bacterial species.

Camptothecin is an alkaloid compound used as an anti-cancer agent. It is a topoisomerase I inhibitor in DNA synthesis. Camptothecin has been shown to bind and stabilize a topoisomerase I-DNA complex in vitro, preventing the enzyme from reannealing DNA strands. This inhibition specifically effects the S-phase of cell development and ultimately results in apoptosis due to damaged DNA.

Camptothecin is produced by endosymbiotic fungi, from the division Ascomycota (Phycomycete), that are present in the tree Camptotheca acuminata which is native to southern China. Camptothecin (Mappia foetida), (GoldBio Catalog # C-565) has also been isolated from fungi on Mappia foetida (Nothapodytes foetida), a plant common to India.

Camptothecin is an alkaloid compound used as an anti-cancer agent. It is a topoisomerase I inhibitor in DNA synthesis. Camptothecin has been shown to bind and stabilize a topoisomerase I-DNA complex in vitro, preventing the enzyme from reannealing DNA strands. This inhibition specifically effects the S-phase of cell development and ultimately results in apoptosis due to damaged DNA.

Camptothecin is found in Mappia foetida (Nothapodytes foetida), a plant native to eastern India. The compound itself is produced by an endosymbiotic Ascomycota (Phycomycete) fungi. Camptothecin (Camptotheca acuminata), (GoldBio Catalog # C-705) has also been produced by endosymbiotic fungi present in Camptotheca acuminata, which is a tree predominantly found in southern China.

Camptothecin sodium is sodium salt of an alkaloid compound camptothecin, which is used for cancer research. Camptothecin is produced from endosymbiotic Ascomycota (Phycomycete) fungi present in the tree Camptotheca acuminata or the plant Mappia foetida.

Camptothecin sodium is a topoisomerase I inhibitor in DNA synthesis. It has been shown to bind and stabilize a topoisomerase I-DNA complex in vitro, preventing the enzyme from reannealing DNA strands. This inhibition specifically effects the S-phase of cell development and ultimately results in apoptosis due to damaged DNA.

Carfilzomib is a second generation proteasome inhibitor that has been used in oncology research.Being a derivative of epoxomicin, carfilzomib has a tetrapeptide epoxyketone structure.

The anti-cancer activity of carfilzomib on proteasomes is attributed to irreversibly binding to a 20S subunit on proteasomes. Affinity of carfilzomib for the subunit has been shown to be fairly significant, allowing carfilzomib to be effective at targeting multiple myeloma and lymphoma.

Proteasomes degrade excess or damaged proteins in both the nucleus and cytosol by cleaving hydrophobic residue peptide bonds. When proteasomes are inhibited by carfilzomib, polyubiquinated proteins accumulate. Polyubiquinated proteins will upregulate p21 synthesis, which activates cell cycle arrest and eventually apoptosis.

Carfilzomib has also been shown to have poor solubility in aqueous solutions, but greater solubility in organic solvents such as DMSO. Aqueous solubility can be enhanced by diluting carfilzomib-organic solvent solution in aqueous buffers. Using aqueous carfilzomib in biological settings should be done in dilute concentrations to limit organic solvent presence. Because carfilzomib organic-aqueous solutions only have a shelf life of approximately 24 hours, it is recommended to make small portions for immediate use.

Cephalomannine is an alkaloid compound derived from the plant Cephalotaxus manii and is a precursor of paclitaxel. It is used for its antineoplastic capabilities, which allow it to stabilize and halt microtubule formation during mitosis. Stalling microtubule formation increases Raf-1 expression stimulating downstream apoptotic pathways.