Inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis by clidanac and related compounds: structural and conformational requirements for PG synthetase inhibition

The inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis by clidanac (6-chloro-5-cyclohexyl-1-indancarboxylic acid, TAI-284), its metabolites and some analogues has been examined using various microsomal preparations as enzyme source. Clidanac and some analogues were among the most potent inhibitors. The (+)-isomer of clidanac was shown to be 1000 times more potent than the (−)-isomer in inhibiting PG synthetase activity. The cis-3′-hydroxyl metabolite which retains anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of clidanac had much less inhibitory activity. Structure-activity studies with clidanac analogues showed that the position of halogen substitution in 1-indancarboxylic acid is of considerable significance for the conformational requirement for binding to the enzyme.