Four derivatives of dehydroabietylamine were synthesized as potential
phospholipase-A(2) (PLA(2)) inhibitors and found to be active as topic
al antiinflammatory as demonstrated in the tetradecanoyl phorbol aceta
te induced ear edema assay (TPA Ear). An attempt has been made to expl
ain the antiinflammatory activity of these compounds based on their bi
ochemical profiles.