Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Allergy Agents) - Volume 6, Issue 4, 2007

The one bullet-one target approach to drug design where compounds exhibit a single specificity in action and function is generally the preferred design. However, there are multiple classes of agents with antiinflammatory activity that are multifunction with activity across taxonomic kingdoms, cell types and molecular targets. The aim of this volume is to examine the structure-function relationship for antiinflammatory agents w Read More

The tetracyclines are broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotics which interfere with the protein synthesis of bacteria at the ribosomal level. More recently the nonantibiotic properties of tetracyclines have attracted increasing interest. Since the initial observations that tetracyclines inhibit collagenases, extensive number of studies have shown that tetracyclines have effects on inflammation, proteolysis, angiogenesis, apopt Read More

Ethanol (alcohol) consumption can modify immune responses. Moderate ethanol use is associated with lower production of mediators of inflammation and has anti-inflammatory effect, while ethanol abuse and alcoholism are linked with augmentation of inflammatory responses. Ethanol exposure can result in functional alterations of macrophages and other cells of the innate immune system. These cells recogniz Read More

Sulfur-containing compounds have proved to be excellent anti-inflammatory agents. In this pharmacological class of compounds the sulfur atom can be found both in reduced and oxidized state. We were interested in outlining the roles of the sulfur moiety and correlate its anti-inflammatory activity to other pharmacological roles based on the mechanism of action of the sulfur groups.

Salicylate is a signaling molecule in plants. It also exhibits signaling activities in mammalian cells. Experimental and clinical data indicate that salicylates have a spectrum of activities, including antithrombotic, anti-inflammatiory, anti-neoplastic, and anti-microbial actions. Aspirin, a synthetic derivative of salicylic acid, is widely used in treating human diseases. The antithrombotic action is unique to aspirin and not sha Read More

Inflammation is the primary host defense mechanism against all forms of injury. Excessive or inadequate activation of the system can have serious effects, as can the failure of inactivation mechanisms. Coumarins can reduce tissue edema and inflammation and inhibit prostaglandin biosynthesis, which involves fatty acid hydroperoxy intermediates. It is to be expected that coumarins might affect the formation and sc Read More

Iridoids discussed in this review were chosen based on their anti-inflammatory activity and their having various different bioactivities. Harpagoside is the major iridoid glycoside (0.5-1.6%) in Harpagophytum procumbens, an herbal medicine for rheumatologic conditions. The stem bark of C. ovata is used as an anti-inflammatory drug and catalposide is the main constituent. Geniposide is a main iridoid glucoside of Gardenia ja Read More

Recent advances have suggested that nongenomic action of retinoids and their receptors represents an important mechanism by which they exert therapeutic effects. Here we review rapid biological responses triggered by retinoids and related molecules by focusing on novel nongenomic mechanisms involving cytoplasmic action of nuclear receptors Nur77 and retinoid X receptor (RXR) in the regulation of apoptosis and inf Read More