Several N-linked amino acid–linoleic acid conjugates were studied for their potential as anti inflammatory agents. The parent molecule, N-linoleoylglycine was tested in an in vivo model, the mouse peritonitis assay where it showed activity in reducing leukocyte migration at doses as low as 0.3 mg/kg when administered by mouth in safflower oil. Harvested peritoneal cells produced elevated levels of the inflammation-resolving eicosanoid 15-deoxy-Δ13,14-PGJ2. These results are similar to those obtained in earlier studies with N-arachidonoylglycine. An in vitro model using mouse macrophage RAW cells was used to evaluate a small group of structural analogs for their ability to stimulate 15-deoxy-Δ13,14-PGJ2 production. The d-alanine derivative was the most active while the d-phenylalanine showed almost no response. A high degree of stereo specificity was observed comparing the d and l alanine isomers; the latter being the less active. It was concluded that linoleic acid conjugates could provide suitable templates in a drug discovery program leading to novel agents for promoting the resolution of chronic inflammation.

This review covers reports published in the last 5 years on the anti-inflammatory activities of all classes of cannabinoids, including phytocannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, synthetic analogs such as ajulemic acid and nabilone, the endogenous cannabinoids anandamide and related compounds, namely, the elmiric acids, and finally, noncannabinoid components of Cannabis that show anti-inflammatory action. It is intended to be an update on the topic of the involvement of cannabinoids in the process of inflammation. A possible mechanism for these actions is suggested involving increased production of eicosanoids that promote the resolution of inflammation. This differentiates these cannabinoids from cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors that suppress the synthesis of eicosanoids that promote the induction of the inflammatory process.

A library of amino acid-fatty acid conjugates (elmiric acids) was synthesized and evaluated for activity as potential anti-inflammatory agents. The compounds were tested in vitro for their effects on cell proliferation and prostaglandin production, and compared with their effects on in vivo models of inflammation. LPS stimulated RAW 267.4 mouse macrophage cells were the in vitro model and phorbol ester-induced mouse ear edema served as the principal in vivo model. The prostaglandin responses were found to be strongly dependent on the nature of the fatty acid part of the molecule. Polyunsaturated acid conjugates produced a marked increase in media levels of i15-deoxy-PGJ2 with minimal effects on PGE production. It is reported in the literature that prostaglandin ratios in which the J series predominates over the E series promote the resolution of inflammatory conditions. Several of the elmiric acids tested here produced such favorable ratios suggesting that their potential anti-inflammatory activity occurs via a novel mechanism of action. The ear edema assay results were generally in agreement with the prostaglandin assay findings indicating a connection between them.A library of amino acid-fatty acid conjugates (elmiric acids) was synthesized and tested for their possible use as anti-inflammatory agents. The compounds were assayed in vitro for their effects on cell proliferation and prostaglandin production, and compared with their effects on in vivo models of inflammation.

AimsTo design and synthesize novel N-(1-phenyl-2,3-dihydroxypropyl)arachidonylamides and evaluate their analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential.Main methodsThe murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 has been widely used as a model for inflammatory responses in vitro. Our model consists of cultured monolayers of RAW 264.7 cells in which media concentrations of 15-deoxy-Δ13,14-PGJ2 (PGJ) are measured by ELISA following LPS (10 ng/ml) stimulation and treatment with 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10 μM concentrations of the compounds.Key findingsOur data indicate that several of our compounds have the capacity to increase production of PGJ and may also increase the occurrence of programmed cell death (apoptosis).SignificanceThus these agents are potential candidates for the therapy of conditions characterized by ongoing (chronic) inflammation and its associated pain.