Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories—XII: Mode of action of anti-inflammatory methane sulfonanilides☆

Abstract The influence of anti-inflammatory methane sulfonanilides on the arachidonic acid metabolism in ram seminal vesicle homogenate depends on the p K a of the individual substance: more acidic compounds suppress, less acidic compounds stimulate PG synthesis and enhance the PGH 2 /PGG 2 ratio. As oxygen radicals are liberated during the conversion of PGG 2 to PGH 2 it is suggested that the less acidic methane sulfonanilides are scavengers of the (pro-inflammatory) oxygen radicals.