Analgesics - antipyretics
= „weak“ analgesics = non-opioid analgesics
Most of them also ••non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDs) antirheumatics
Oldřich Farsa 2011
Metabolism of eicosanoids
O
Oarachidonic 
acid 
O
H2
=
- C O
 - R1
 
OH 
OH 
R2 
- R2
 - O
 
CH3 
C O P O 
H2
O
N+ CH3
CH3 glucocorticoids
inhibitors of
phspholipase A2
prostaglandins sythesis = = "weak"
COOH
analgesics +
lipoxygenase inhibitors
+ NSAIDs
arachidonic acid
cyclooxygenases (COX1 + COX2)
lipoxygenase 
OOH 
COOH 
O
O
COOH 
5-hydroperoxy-6-trans-8,11,14-cis-eikosatetraenoic acid
PG G2 
OOH 
(5-HPETE)
cyklooxygenases
prostacyklin synthase 
PG I2 = prostacyklin 
endothelium cells
tromboxan synthase 
PG H2 
TX A2 
LT A4 isomerases 
trombocytes
PG D2 
PG E2 
LT C4 
LT B4 
PG F2
α
all the cells
LT D4 LT E4
Effects of prostaglandins
Prostaglandin E, F2α : ache, fewer, inflammation, sekretion of HCl↓, stomach mucosa capilaries dilatation, contraction of uterus, kidneys: excretion of Na+ and H2O ↑
Prostacyclin (prostaglandin I ): vasodilatation, platelets aggregation inhibition
2
Tromboxan: vasokonstriction, platelets aggregation activation Leukotriens: alergic reactions (e.g. asthma bronchiale)
Cyklooxygenases (= prostaglandin G/H synthases)
COX1
Constitutive: in all the tissues Functions: •••protection of stomach mucosa (vasodilatation) diuresis platelets aggregation (TXA)
COX2
Philipp Needlemann inventor of COX isoenzymes
Constitutive: kidneys, brain (co-localized with cyclins D1 and E) Inducible: macrophages, neutrophfils, fibroblasts, endothelium cells Functions:
(1989)
vasodilatation (PG I ) 
•••
2
porod (děložní stahy) childbirth (uterus contractions) inflammation processes COX3 ?? (= COX1b; brain ?)
Classification of COX inhibitors 
(antipyretics, NSAIDs) 
Non-selective (COX1 + COX2)
••••Anilides Salicylates Phenamates Aryl- and heteroaryl alkanoic acids 
•Aryl- and heteroaryl acetic acids 
- •
 - Aryl- and heteroaryl propionic acids
 
•••Oxicames 1,2-Dihydropyrazolidine-3-ones 2,5-Pyrazolidinediones
Selective (COX1<COX2): nimesulide Specific (COX2)
•
Coxibes
Anilides
- HN
 - O
 
- HN
 - O
 
- HN
 - O
 
O
OH 
paracetamol acetaminophen
4-(acetylamino)phenol
phenacetin
N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)acetamide
acetanilide
- (
 - )
 
N-phenylacetamide
nephrotoxicity
Dinyl® - analg. 
1886: Antifebrin® 
para-(acetylamino)phenol p-(acetylamino)phenol
Paralen , Panadol …. mixture with caffeine, aminophenazone and barbiturates
Paracetamol
•
inhibits COX only in CNS (COX3 ?) not in periphery ⇒ 
•effects: analgesic, antipyretic (not antiinflamatory, 
antirheumatic)
Použití ve směsích s(e) Usage in mixtures with •codeine, caffeine ⇒ effect enhancement (Korylan tbl.®,
- HN
 - O
 
Panadol tbl.®, Efferalgan codein tbl. eff.®) •••expectorants (guajfenesin, terpin) antitussives (dextromethorphan) H -antihistaminines (pheniramine, chlorphenamine,
OH
1
dimenhydrinate, promethazin, doxylamin) together with α-sympatomimetics (phenylefrine, pseudoephedrine)
•••spasmolytics (pitophenon) myorelaxants (chlorzoxan, carisoprodol) NSAID (acetylsalicylic acid, propyphenazon – Valetol®)
Metabolism of paracetamol
Ourine
O
O
O
2% urine 
S
HO 
HO 
O
OH 
O
- O
 - 42 %
 - 52 %
 
urine conjugation conjugation
- HO
 - OH
 
- N
 - O
 
- N
 - O
 
N
O
CH3 
paracetamol sulfate 
CH3 
CH3 
paracetamol glucuronide
4 % cytochrome 
P-450 
RS
R-SH 
(glutahione, 
N-acetylcysteine) 
OH N
ON
R-SH = glutathion ⇒ 
⇒ merkapturic acid 
- O
 - O
 
- CH3
 - CH3
 
- N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine
 - urine
 
N-(4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-diene-1-ylidene)acetamide
NAPQI 
HEPATOTOXIC 
Thiols detoxicating N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine
γ − Glu-Cys-Gly 
HS 
O
H
O
O
- HO
 - N
 
H
O
- N
 - N
 
- H
 - H
 - OH
 
glutathione
SH O 
OH 
- H3C
 - N
 
H
O
N-acetyl-L-cysteine
mucolytic 
ACC®, Mucobene® 
Synthesis of paracetamol
OH 
OH 
Sn 
CH3COOH 
Morse, Chem. Ber. 11, 232 (1878) 
- HN
 - O
 
NO2
CH3
OH 
O
NO2 
H3C 
2-nitrophenol 
OH 
OH 
O
OH 
OH 
H3C
- HNO3
 - O
 
Fe, HCl
- HN
 - O
 
NO2 
NH2 
CH3 
4-(acetylamino)phenol phenol 
4-nitrophenol 
4-aminophenol 
Propacetamol – paracetamol prodrug
•for intravenous application
O
Cl 
+ H
N
O
- HN
 - O
 
CH3 
4-(acetylamino)phenyl-N,N-diethylglycinate hydrochloride 
2-[4-(acetylamino)phenoxy]-N,N-diethyl-2-oxoethaneaminium chloride 
propacetamol hydrochloreid
Pro-Dafalgan® (UPSA Laboratoires)
O
N
O
H
O
Oesterase
H2O 
N
+
HO
- HN
 - O
 
- HN
 - O
 
CH3 
CH3 
Salicylates
OOO
H3C H3C 
HO HO
- O
 - OH
 
- O
 - OH
 
HO 
O
hydrolýza oxidace
- O
 - CH3
 
O
OH 
O
- HO
 - OH
 
salicylic acid 
2-hydroxybenzoová kys. salicin 
acetylosalicylic acid 
2-acetoxybenzoic acid 
(2-hydroxymethylphenyl)-
β
-D-glucopyranoside 
1838 Piria: the first synthesis since 1878 used as antipyretic and antirheumatic 
1827 Leroux: isolation from willow 
1897 Felix Hoffmann - industrial synthesis
1899 – Aspirin® (Bayer)
- Felix Hoffmann
 - Sir John R. Vane
 
Effects of acetylosalicylic acid
„Wanted“:
- O
 - OH
 
•••••antipyretic
- O
 - CH3
 
analgesic
O
anti-inflamatory antirheumatic
®
antithrombotic (↓ platelets aggregation) – Anopyrin
„Unwanted“:
- •
 - ulcerogenic
 
•Rey syndrom in childern after viral infection
(hepatopathy, encefalopathy) ⇒ contra-indication in childern
•bleeding (e.g. from nose - ↓ platelets aggregation) Intoxication = „salicylism“ – infliction of CNS (psychical malfunctios, buzz in ears, dizzines, deafness), methabolic acidosis
Mechanis of action of acetylosalicylic acid (ASA)
•irreversible inhibition od cyclooxygenases by acetylation of serine rest
Ser
- HO
 - O
 
O
- O
 - CH3
 
- H3C
 - O
 
+
OH 
COX 
+
- O
 - O
 
COX
NH2 
O
NH2 
- HO
 - O
 
OH
+
- O
 - OH
 
O
- O
 - CH3
 
Metabolism of ASA
proceeds in liver
HO HO 
O
OH 
O
O
••
O
ASA 
all metabolits are excreted
t1/2= 15 min.
- HO
 - OH
 
by urine
O1-salicyoylglucuronic acid 
5 % 
- O
 - OH
 
OH
- glucuronation
 - CH3COOH
 
+
O
OH 
O
HO
HO salicylic acid. 
10 % 
Oconjugation with Gly 
O
O
OH 
O
NH 
HO 
OH 
OH hydroxylation 
O1-(2-carboxyphenyl)glucuronic acid 
10 % salicyluric acid 
(N-salicyoylglycine) 
- 75 %
 - O
 - OH
 
OH
HO gentisic acid 
< 1 % 
Syntheses of ASA
- O
 - OH
 
OH
- O
 - OH
 
O
Gerhardt, Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem. 87, 164 (1853) Gilm, Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem. 112, 181 (1859) Kraut, Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem. 150, 10 (1869)
- O
 - O
 - H3C
 
Cl
CH3 
O
H3C 
H3C
- O
 - OH
 
OH 
OO
- O
 - OH
 
- O
 - O
 
Felix Hoffmann
CH3
Other salicylates
CH3 
CH3 
CH3
O
O
- O
 - O
 
O
O
F
O
- O
 - O
 
- O
 - O
 
- O
 - O
 
- Al
 - Al
 - Al
 
OH
O
O
- O
 - O
 
- O
 - O
 
F
OH 
- O
 - O
 - O
 
O
CH3 
CH3 
2',4'-difluoro-4-hydroxy-1,1'-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid pentakis(acetylosalicyoyloxy)trialuminium dioxide
- aloxiprin
 - diflunisal
 
- Superpyrin®
 - Unisal® tbl.
 
Anthranilic acid derivatives – phenamates
= substition derivatives of 2-phenylaminobenzooic acid derived from salicylates by substitution of hydroxy group with
•
(phenyl)amino moiety
OH 
O
R3
HN
R1 
R2 
••••aromatic amino acids substituted on the aniline ring only inhibit both COX1 and COX2 (selectivity?; COX3?) analgesics, antipyretics, antimigrenics, anti-inflammatory
Phenamates
OH 
O
R3
HN
R1 
R2 
- R1
 - R2
 
- R3 Chemica name
 - INN / preparation
 
2-(2,3-dimethylphenylamino)- benzoic acid
-CH3 -CH3 -H
mephenamic acid
2-(2,6-dichloro-3- methylphenylamino)benzoic acid
-Cl -CH3 -Cl -CH3 -Cl -H
meclophenamic acid
2-(3-chloro-2- methylphenylamino)benzoic acid
tolphenamic acid
Migea rapid®
2-(3-trifluoromethylphenylamino)benzoic acid
- -H
 - -CF3 -H
 
fluphenamic acid 
Tolphenamic acid 
Synthesis 
K+
OH 
N
O
- O
 - O
 
NH2 
H
N
CH3 Cl 
Br 
O
+
1.(CH3COO)2Cu, DMF 2. H+ 
H3C 
Cl 
Kaltenbronn J.S. et al., Arzneim. Forsch 33, 621-627 (1983)
Selectivity against COXs
IC (COX1)
50
IC (COX 2) =
10
50
Grossmann C. J. et al., Inflammation Res. 44, 253-257 (1995)
Niflumic acid and its esters
F
F
- F
 - F
 
F
F
H
N
HN
C
N
O
O
OH 
OH 
2-{[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino}nicotinic acid
fluphenamic acid
niflumic acid
•isosteric substitution benzene ⇒ pyridine, or –CH= ⇒ 
-N= 
••inhibit both COX1 and COX2 anti-inflamatory, antirheumatics; usually topically administered
Niflumic acid and its esters
•
esters are prodrugs which can better penetrate through the skin
R
2-{ [(3-trifluormethyl)phenyl]amino}nicotinic acid
H
niflumic acid
Niflugel®, Nifluril®
F
F
F
-||- 2-(morpholine-4-yl)ethylester
HN
N
morniflumate
N
O
O
O R 
-||- 1-oxo-2-(3H)-benzofurane-3-ylester
talniflumate
OO
Aryl- and heteroarylalkanoic acids
Structure-activity relationships (SAR)
•the aliphatic part of the molecule is more specific for the effect
than the aromatic one
O
ARY >
O
- ARY
 - O
 
- O
 - ARY
 
O
=
=
>
OH 
ARY 
OH
ARY
OH
- H3C
 - OH
 
OH
ARY = aryl, heteroaryl
Aryl- and heteroarylacetic acids and their functional
derivatives
O
H2C 
R
Y
R = aryl or heteroaryl 
Y = OH, NHOH, NHR, OCH2COOH, or other 
•••antirheumatics, anti-inflamatory, analgesics, antipyretics inhibition of both COX1 and COX2 adverse effects (AE) like in salicylates Aryl- and heteroarylacetic acids and their functional derivatives
O
(fenacs)
H3C 
O
O R 
O
- Cl
 - Cl
 
NH
Cl 
N
CH3 
- O
 - O
 
R
R = H 
R = H 
{2-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino]phenyl}acetic acid 
[1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl]acetic acid 
diclofenac indomethacin
••
•
- used since 1975
 - used since 1963
 
- now mainly topically
 - Voltaren®, Veral®, Myogit®,
 
Dicloreum® 
Indobene® cps, Bonidon® gel, 
Elmetacin® spr
R= OCH2COOH 
{2-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino]phenyl}acetic acid carboxymethylester 
R = OCH2COOH 
[1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl]acetic acid caboxymethylester 
aceclofenac acemetacin
Heteroarylacetic acids and their derivatives
O O 
HN O 
N
O
- O
 - O
 - N
 
- N
 - CH3
 - O
 
H3C N
O
- H3C
 - CH3
 
Cl
proglumetacin
Cl 
Cl 
N
N
N
S
OH 
OH 
O
O
[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-yl]acetic acid [4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-phenyl-1,3-thiazole-5-yl]acetic acid
- fentiazac
 - lonazolac
 
•
isosteres 
Aryl- a heteroarylacetic acids 
CH3 N
CH3 
O
O