Title: Nitric oxide release is not required to decrease the ulcerogenic profile of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the biological properties of a new series of nitric oxide-releasing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NO-NSAIDs) possessing a tyrosol linker between the NSAID and the NO-releasing moiety (PROLI/NO); however, initial screening of ester intermediates without the PROLI/NO group showed the required (desirable) efficacy/safety ratio, which questioned the need for NO in the design. In this regard, NSAID ester intermediates were potent and selective COX-2 inhibitors in vitro, showed equipotent anti-inflammatory activity compared to the corresponding parent NSAID, but showed a markedly reduced gastric toxicity when administered orally. These results provide complementary evidence to challenge the currently accepted notion that hybrid NO-NSAIDs exert their cytoprotective effects by releasing NO. Results obtained in this work constitute a good body of evidence to initiate a debate about the future replacement of NSAID prodrugs for unprotected NSAIDs (possessing a free carboxylic acid group) currently in clinical use.
(PMID: 22148253)

Putative Target:

ChEMBL Target ID: 50597
Target Type: ORGANISM
Pref Name: Rattus norvegicus
Organism: Rattus norvegicus
Tax ID: 10116
Confidence: Target assigned is non-molecular
Relationship Type: Non-molecular target assigned

ChEMBL Assay Type: ADMET

ChEMBL Assay Data Source: Scientific Literature