ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF 2,3-DIHYDROPHTHALAZINE-1,4-DIONES IN CF1MICE

2,3-Dihydrophthalazine-1,4-diones were observed to be potent anti-infl ammatory agents as well as capable of protecting against endotoxin sho ck in mice at 8 mg/kg i.p. These agents blocked both locally- and cent rally-induced pain at 8 mg/kg i.p. In part they appear to mediate thei r effects due to their ability to suppress the release of cytokines su ch as TNF-alpha and IL-1 from macrophages, as well as the binding of t hese cytokines to high-affinity receptors on target cells involved in the inflammation process. Lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes as well as 5'-l ipoxygenase activities were reduced by the agents.