Stereoisomeric relationships among anti-inflammatory activity, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and inhibition of prostaglandin synthetase.

This study compares the affects of a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, d,l-6-chloro-alpha-methyl-carbazole-2-acetic acid, its enantiomers, and indomethacin on platelet aggregation, prostaglandin synthetase, adjuvant arthritis, gastric ulceration and arachidonic acid induced diarrhea. In the adjuvant arthritic rat, doses producing anti-inflammatory activity were similar for all compounds with the exception of the l-isomer which was much less active. On the other hand, indomethacin was 10 to 25 times more potent with regard to inhibition of platelet aggregation, inhibition on prostaglandin synthetase, inhibition of arachidonic acid induced diarrhea, and induction of gastric ulceration than the racemate and its isomers.