Colchicine is an alkaloid isolated from Colchicum autumnale and other Colchica species. It is an antimitotic agent useful against various cancer cell lines. Colchicine disrupts microtubules and can be used to induce tetraploidy in plant cells. It is an activator of the JNK/SAPK signaling pathway and used to select for cells containing MDCK (NBL-2) resistance. Colchicine’s antimitotic properties are more effective against cancer cells due to their increased mitotic rate compared to that of healthy cells. Colchicine is useful in cell division studies.

Cryptotanshinone is a quinoid diterpene extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and has been used as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer compound. As an antibacterial agent, cryptotanshinone exhibits a broad range of activity against gram positive bacteria. In vivo studies of bactericidal mechanisms have shown cryptotanshinone to form superoxides which damage bacterial proteins, lipids and DNA.

Cryptotanshinone has also been used as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting both nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). The anti-inflammatory actions occur in downstream pathways, inhibiting p38 MAPK, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation. Inhibition of these pathways and molecules will decrease pro-inflammatory pathway responses as well as cytokine synthesis.

As an anti-cancer agent, cryptotanshinone was used to inhibit cancer cell proliferation through the decreased expression of cyclin D1 or increase in cyclin A1 and cyclin B1 expression. It was also used to impede cancer motility by inhibiting complement component 5a protein (C5a), an analphylatoxin. Cryptotanshinone has also been used to reduce cell motility by inhibiting basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a promoter of angiogenesis. Apoptotic effects were also observed by cryptotanshinone when it was used to inhibit signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 expression, which upregulates cell survival pathways.

The cyclosporins are a group of macrolide immunosuppressants isolated from fungi. They are researched for their use in prevention of post-transplant graft rejection. Their mechanism of action involves suppression of cytotoxic T-cell maturation and activity by binding lymphocyte protein cyclophilin. Cyclophilin and cyclosporin form a complex targeting calcineurin, which is responsible for activating T-lymphocytes. Additionally, the cyclosporins are researched for their ability to prevent damage to normal functioning cells in autoimmune disorders.

Cyclosporin A is over 99% pure and soluble in DMSO and ethyl alcohol.

The cyclosporins are a group of macrolide immunosuppressants isolated from fungi. They are researched for their use in prevention of post-transplant graft rejection. Their mechanism of action involves suppression of cytotoxic T-cell maturation and activity by binding lymphocyte protein cyclophilin. Cyclophilin and cyclosporin form a complex targeting calcineurin, which is responsible for activating T-lymphocytes. Additionally, the cyclosporins are researched for their ability to prevent damage to normal functioning cells in autoimmune disorders.

Cyclosporin B is soluble in DMSO and ethyl alcohol.

The cyclosporins are a group of macrolide immunosuppressants isolated from fungi. They are researched for their use in prevention of post-transplant graft rejection. Their mechanism of action involves suppression of cytotoxic T-cell maturation and activity by binding lymphocyte protein cyclophilin. Cyclophilin and cyclosporin form a complex targeting calcineurin, which is responsible for activating T-lymphocytes. Additionally, the cyclosporins are researched for their ability to prevent damage to normal functioning cells in autoimmune disorders.

Cyclosporin D is soluble in DMSO and ethyl alcohol.

D-Penicillamine is a copper chelating agent that also functions as a disease modifying, anti-rheumatic immunosuppressant.

Dabrafenib is a compound used as a serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf inhibitor for oncology research. It competitively inhibits V600E BRAF gene mutations which are characteristic in melanoma cancers. Inhibition of B-Raf proteins, by dabrafenib, interrupts mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathways, which regulate cell growth.This action halts cell proliferative activity and engages apoptosis.

Dacarbazine (DTIC) is an anti-cancer prodrug that has been used as a standard for comparing the efficacy of new antineoplastic compounds. It is used with other anti-cancer compounds to both increase potency and disrupt side-effects generated by DTIC. While being a strong antineoplastic agent, DTIC has also been shown to stimulate interleukin 8 (IL8) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in cancer cells.

DTIC is transformed by liver enzymes into its active methyl diazonium cation form. The active form of DTIC has displayed anti-tumor activity following light exposure. It has been shown that the light exposure catalyzes methyl diazonium cation to form a carbine and aryl radical. These radicals damage DNA of malignant cancer cells, producing cytotoxic effects and eventual cell death.

Dexamethasone 21-phosphate disodium salt is a system glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory properties. Dexamethasone 21-phosphate disodium salt is the pro-drug, which is converted to dexamethasone. It stimulates uptake of glutamine in the cerebral cortex and induces apoptosis. Additionally, it is an inhibitor of the sodium phosphate symporter and GR activator.

Dihydrotanshinone I is a compound extracted from the plant Salvie miltorrhiza Bunge. It is used as a gram positive antibacterial and anti-cancer compound. In both in vivo and in vitro research, dihydrotanshinone I generated reactive oxygen species which trigger apoptosis in bacteria and cancer cells.

Dihydrotanshinone I triggers apoptosis by directly damaging DNA and preventing further replication or by activating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK). This class of protein kinase engages apoptosis by activating caspases which are proteases that induce cell death. Dihydrotanshinone I has also been shown to inhibit cell growth past the G1 stage and prevent blood vessel formation by inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) activity.

Doxorubicin HCl is an anthracycline antibiotic that inhibits cancer progression by suppressing DNA replication. It is the 12-hydroxylated form of daunorubicin and causes DNA intercalation. It also inhibits topoisomerase II. Doxorubicin is researched for its efficacy against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute leukemias, Kaposi sarcoma, Wilm tumor, Ewing sarcoma, and cancers of the breast, lung, ovary, endometrium, and adrenal cortex. Doxorubicin is an MRP-1 substrate and has been used in drug-resistance studies.