Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Fenoprofen Research Articles

Old drugs with new skills: fenoprofen as an allosteric enhancer at melanocortin receptor 3

The efficiency of drug research and development has paradoxically declined over the last decades despite major scientific and technological advances, promoting new cost-effective strategies such as drug repositioning by systematic screening for new actions of known drugs. Here, we performed a screening for positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) at melanocortin (MC) receptors. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug fenoprofen, but not the similar compound ibuprofen, presented PAM activity at MC3, MC4, and MC5 receptors. In a model of inflammatory arthritis, fenoprofen afforded potent inhibition while ibuprofen was nearly inactive. Fenoprofen presented anti-arthritic actions on cartilage integrity and synovitis, effects markedly attenuated in Mc3r−/− mice. Fenoprofen displayed pro-resolving properties promoting macrophage phagocytosis and efferocytosis, independently of cyclooxygenase inhibition. In conclusion, combining repositioning with advances in G-protein coupled receptor biology (allosterism) may lead to potential new therapeutics. In addition, MC3 PAMs emerged as a viable approach to the development of innovative therapeutics for joint diseases.

Therapeutic properties, SOD and catecholase mimetic activities of novel ternary copper(II) complexes of the anti-inflammatory drug Fenoprofen with imidazole and caffeine

The copper(II) ternary complexes of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Fenoprofen (Hfen) and the biologically relevant molecules imidazole (im) and caffeine (caf) as auxiliary ligands were investigated as novel anti-inflammatory agents. The new copper(II) complexes with formula [Cu(fen)2(im)2] (1) and Cu2(fen)4(caf)2 (2) were synthesized from the dinuclear complex [Cu2(fen)4(dmf)2] and characterized by IR, UV–Vis, EPR spectral and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of complex 1 was determined by X-ray crystallography. Both complexes 1 and 2 present enhanced and prolongued anti-inflammatory properties against the parent drug calcium Fenoprofenate, Ca(fen)2·2H2O, with a better performance for complex 1. Ternary complexes are potential models for several mono and poly-nuclear metal enzymes. The measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic activities of the complexes indicated a higher SOD mimic activity for complex 2 (IC50 of 0.24μM) than complex 1 (IC50 of 0.70μM), and also than the native enzyme evaluated by the same method (IC50 of 0.480μM). The catecholase activity of the complexes toward the aerobic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (dtbc) onto 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone (dtbq) showed that both complexes have moderate catalytic oxidase activity.

Significant anti-inflammatory properties of a copper(II) fenoprofenate complex compared with its parent drug: Physical and chemical characterization of the complex

The synthesis, physicochemical characterization, anti-inflammatory properties and catecholase mimetic activity of the dinuclear complex of copper(II) with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Fenoprofen [2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)propionic acid] with formula [Cu2(fen)4(dmf)2] (fen = fenoprofenate anion, dmf = N,N-dimethylformamide) have been investigated. Results of spectroscopic analysis (FTIR and EPR) as well as thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis data obtained for the solid complex are in good agreement with its dinuclear structure. Electronic spectra of the product are also reported and discussed. The complex was tested for anti-inflammatory properties in comparison to the parent drug, Fenoprofen calcium salt. Oral administration of the dinuclear compound inhibited development of carrageenan-induced oedema in mice; this inhibition was higher than that observed for the parent drug. The kinetic study of the catecholase mimetic activity was carried out spectrophotometrically by monitoring the oxidative transformation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol into the corresponding light-absorbing o-quinone. Kinetic parameters were determined employing the Michaelis-Menten model, showing that the new complex presents catechol oxidase mimetic activity.

Investigations on the micellisation behaviour of fenoprofen sodium

The aim of the present study was to investigate the micellisation behaviour of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug fenoprofen sodium in aqueous solutions. The methods used were foam stability measurements, 1H-NMR, solubilisation, photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results from surface tension measurements performed in a previous study were included. A great discrepancy between critical values from different experimental methods was found. Methods that detect changes in the surface properties of aqueous fenoprofen sodium solutions suggest that the critical concentration was 1.5∗10 −2 mol/l, while methods that detect changes in the bulk phase led to a critical concentration of 1.2∗10 −1 mol/l. In the concentration range between 1.5∗10 −2 and about 1.0∗10 −1 mol/l no formation of aggregates could be detected (concluded from the absence of an upfield shift of the phenyl proton signals in the NMR measurements and the finding that the oily, practically water insoluble fenoprofen acid could not be solubilised by fenoprofen sodium solutions below concentrations of 1.0∗10 −1 mol/l fenoprofen sodium). Association of fenoprofen sodium molecules to micelles starts at concentrations between 1.0 and 1.2∗10 −1 mol/l. In conclusion, the determination of the critical micelle concentration from surface tension measurements does not allow the determination of micellisation phenomena in the case of fenoprofen sodium. Further methods are required to assure micellisation. Photon correlation spectroscopy and TEM support the assumption that fenoprofen sodium forms disclike micelles, although with both methods the micelle size could not exactly be determined. From differences in the chemical shift of the two phenyl rings of fenoprofen sodium it was concluded that the micelles have a bilayer or partially overlapping bilayer structure.

Electron and light microscopical investigation of defect structures in mesophases of pharmaceutical substances

Transmission electron microscopy of freeze fractured and replicated samples (TEM) and polarizing light microscopy (PLM) are used to investigate the defect structures of the thermotropic and lyotropic mesophases of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug fenoprofen sodium and of the thermotropic mesophase of the nonionic surfactant sucrose oleate (O1570). All mesophases have a layered, smectic structure. The thermotropic liquid crystal of fenoprofen sodium is an interdigitated smectic A phase (smectic Ad) having the highest viscosity of the investigated samples. The thermotropic mesophase of the sugar ester is also of the type smectic A, likely to be of subtype smectic A2 (bilayered smectic structure). The lyotropic mesophase is of lamellar liquid crystalline nature and has a much lower viscosity than the thermotropic mesophases. In the PLM the lyotropic fenoprofen mesophase has a strong tendency to form a pseudoisotropic texture, indicating a strong tendency to form undisturbed layered structures. Other textures exhibited in the PLM are fan-shaped texture and maltese-cross texture. Confocal domains, cylinders, pits and peaks as well as screw dislocations are found in great number in the TEM. However, no greater regions of undisturbed lamellar arrangement in the lyotropic mesophase could be detected. The only texture of the thermotropic fenoprofen mesophase visible in the PLM is the fan-shaped texture, indicating confocal domains as predominant structural elements. However, no confocal domains (tori or Dupin cyclides) are found in the TEM. In the PLM the sugar-ester mesophase exhibited a fan-shaped texture, maltese crosses and oily streaks as dominant textures. In the TEM only a few +π and −π disclinations and imperfect confocal domains could be detected. The discrepancies in the appearance of defect structures and textures between the mesophases as well as the discrepancies in the findings in the PLM and in the TEM investigations are caused by the different sample preparation and the different viscosities of the mesophases.

Inhibition of tolbutamide 4-methylhydroxylation by a series of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in V79-NH cells expressing human cytochrome P4502C10.

1. To study the role of cytochrome P4502C10 in the metabolism of the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) diclofenac, phenylbutazone, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen, a cell line was developed stably expressing CYP2C10 cDNA. A retroviral vector construct, containing a human CYP2C10 cDNA, was transfected in V79-NH Chinese hamster lung cells by calcium phosphate co-precipitation. Sublines stably expressing human cytochrome P450 cDNA were established by selection with the neomycin analogue G418. 2. Enzymatic activity of CYP2C10 was detected by 4-methylhydroxylation of tolbutamide. This activity was inhibited to background levels by preincubation with the CYP2C9/10 inhibitor sulphaphenazole. 3. Preincubations with the NSAIDs ketoprofen, phenylbutazone, flurbiprofen and diclofenac (all 250 microM) caused a decrease in 4-methylhydroxylation of tolbutamide (500 microM), significantly different from control values (p < 0.05). Inhibition of this activity was not seen in preincubations with the NSAIDs fenoprofen, ibuprofen and naproxen (250 microM). 4. The V79-NH CYP2C10 cell line we have developed has been shown to be a useful tool to predict drug-drug interactions.

Disposition of human drug preparations in the horse IV. Orally administered fenoprofen

Plasma and urinary concentrations of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug fenoprofen were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure following oral administration of a dose of 3 g to fed and fasted horses. In plasma, fenoprofen was present in detectable concentrations for 6–12 h. Free access to hay significantly reduced the peak plasma concentration and bioavailability of fenoprofen, and large interindividual differences in absorption and elimination pattern occurred. In fasted horses, fenoprofen was rapidly absorbed with a mean half-life of 0.10 h. Maximum concentrations were found 0.63 ± 0.21 h after dosing. The elimination half-life was 0.9 h. As early as 1 h after dosage, fenoprofen could be detected in hydrolysed and unhydrolysed urine, and remained detectable up to 48 h. The maximum excretion rate and peak concentration occurred 2 h after administration, irrespective of the feeding schedule. In fed horses, a second maximum occured after 9 h. The percentage of the dose excreted as unchanged fenoprofen in 12 h was 13.0 ± 6.8%. A recovery of 21.9 ± 7.4%, and 42.2 ± 7.0% of the dose was obtained after enzymatic and alkaline hydrolysis, respectively. At least three hydroxylated metabolites were detected in hydrolysed urine.

In vitro Enantioselective Glucuronidation of Fenoprofen

The diastereomeric glucuronic acid conjugates are major metabolites of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug fenoprofen (FEN). Glucuronidation of FEN enantiomers was investigated with liver microsomal preparations from different species (sheep, rabbit, rat and human). The formed R- and S-FEN conjugates can be separated and quantitated directly on a C18 reversed-phase HPLC column using a mixture of acetonitrile and tetrabutylammonium sulfate buffer, pH 2.5, as mobile phase. Applying this analytical procedure, it is possible to characterize enantioselective glucuronidation of FEN. For in vitro procedures, rates of glucuronide formation are substrate (FEN) and cosubstrate (UDP glucuronic acid, UDPGA) dependent with initial rates of glucuronide formation being higher for R- than for S-FEN. The R/S ratio of the formed products was independent of UDPGA (2.5-15 mmol/l) and substrate concentrations greater than or equal to 0.4 mmol/l. Enantioselective cleavage of the formed FEN conjugates by alkaline hydrolysis and hydrolytic enzymes (R greater than S-glucuronide) can be controlled during in vitro studies by pH adjustment and the addition of enzyme inhibitors.