- Industry: Government; Health care
- Number of terms: 6957
- Number of blossaries: 0
- Company Profile:
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is one of 11 agencies that compose the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The NCI, established under the National Cancer Institute Act of 1937, is the Federal Government's principal agency for ...
An herbal extract derived from the root of the plant Angelica sinensis with possible antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, vasodilatory, estrogenic, and antitumor activities. Angelica sinensis contains volatile oils, including safrole, isosafrole, and n-butylphthalide; coumarin derivatives, including psoralens, bergapten, osthol, imperatorin, and oxypeucedanin; and ferulic acid. The coumarin derivatives in this agent may vasodilate and relax smooth muscle and may exhibit additive anticoagulant effects. Ferulic acid, a phenolic phytochemical present in plant cell walls, may neutralize free radicals such as reactive oxygen species. In addition, Angelica sinensis extract has been shown to inhibit the growth and induce apoptosis of glioblastoma mutltiforme brain tumor cells through p53-dependent and p53-independent pathways.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
An herbal extract derived from the root of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra with potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antineoplastic activities. Licorice root extract contains glycoside glycyrrhizinic acid and numerous flavonoids. Glycyrrhizinic acid in licorice root extract is hydrolyzed to glycyrrhetic acid (GA); GA inhibits 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, resulting in inhibition of the conversion of cortisol to the inactive steroid cortisone and elevated cortisol levels. In addition, GA inhibits 17,20-lyase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, resulting in decreased conversions of 17-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione and androstenedione to testosterone. The primary antioxidant found in licorice root, the flavonoid glabridin, may inactivate or inhibit the activities of some cytochrome P450 enzymes. In tumor cells, beta-hydroxy-DHP, another flavonoid, may induce Bcl-2 phosphorylation, apoptosis, and G2/M cell cycle arrest.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
An herbal extract isolated from the root of the plant Valeriana officinalis with sedative and anxiolytic activities. Valeriana officinalis extract contains four distinct classes of phytochemical constituents: volatile oils; sesquiterpenoids, including valerenic acid and its hydroxyl and acetoxyl derivative; valepotriates; and volatile pyridine alkaloids. Although the exact mechanism of action has not been established, the sequiterpenoids in Valeriana officinalis extract, particularly valerenic acid, appear to account for its sedative and anxiolytic effects. Valerenic acid is both a subtype-selective GABA-A receptor agonist and a 5HT-5A receptor partial agonist. The sedative-hypnotic benzodiazepines are GABA-A receptor agonists.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
An herbal extract prepared from the plant Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) with photodynamic, antineoplastic, and antidepressant activities. Hypericin, one of the active compounds found in Hypericum perforatum, is a photosensitizer that, when exposed to a particular wavelength and intensity of light, may induce tumor cell apoptosis. Another compound, hyperforin, induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in certain tumor cell lines. Hypericum perforatum preparations may also stimulate the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes and P-glycoprotein drug transporters, resulting in increased metabolism and decreased efficacy of various chemotherapeutic agents and other drugs.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
An herbal formula containing burdock root (Arctium lappa), Turkey rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), and slippery elm bark (Ulmus fulva) with potential immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. The exact chemical profile, their respective concentrations and the mechanism of action of Essiac are largely unknown due to the proprietary nature of the formula and product inconsistency. Several chemical classes in Essiac are consistently represented and may attribute to its therapeutic effect, including anthraquinone derivatives such as rhein and emodin, high molecular polysaccharides, and lignans such as arctigenin. However, all these chemicals are unlikely to occur in high concentrations in Essiac, and its potential therapeutic effect may be attributed to a potential synergistic effect of these various compounds.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
An herbal remedy containing the leaves and/or flowering tops of a species of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) with potential anticachexia activity. Upon oral consumption, Artemisia absinthium may decrease production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha. As increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines is correlated with decreased appetite and weight loss, Artemisia absinthium may increase appetite and improve weight gain.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
An I 131 radioiodinated synthetic analogue of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. Iobenguane localizes to adrenergic tissue and, in radioiodinated forms, may be used to image or eradicate tumor cells that take up and metabolize norepinephrine.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
An IgG murine monoclonal antibody directed against the ganglioside GD3 glycolipid, located in the cell membranes of some tumor cells. Monoclonal antibody R24 binds to GD3-positive cells, thereby initiating antibody-dependent cytotoxicity against GD3-positive cells.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
An IgG1k fully human monoclonal antibody directed against the human prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) with potential antineoplastic activity. Anti-PSCA fully human monoclonal antibody AGS-1C4D4 selectively targets and binds to PSCA, triggering complement-dependent cell lysis and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity in tumor cells expressing PSCA. PSCA is a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked cell surface antigen found in cancers of the bladder, pancreas, and prostate.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
An imidazoquinolinamine Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist with potential immunostimulatory activity. Resiquimod binds to and activates TLRs 7 and 8, mainly on dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and B-lymphocytes, which results in the activation of the TLR signaling pathway and nuclear translocation of the transcription activator NF-kB another transcription factors; subsequently, the production of cytokines, especially interferon-alpha (INF-a), increases, enhancing T-helper 1 (Th1) immune responses. In addition, topical application of resiquimod appears to activate Langerhans cells, which may result in enhanced activation of T-lymphocytes. Due to its immunostimulatory activity, this agent may potentially be useful as a vaccine adjuvant.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
