Five new anti-inflammatory compounds (fight against inflammation) that are 10, 000 times more potent than the most commonly used drugs such as nimusulide and aspirin have been developed and patented by Indian researchers. Researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), situated in New Delhi, India, have carried out the work.
"These compounds are about 10,000 times better than the commonly used pain drugs such as nimesulide and aspirin in terms of potency. We have already reached an understanding with a company to carry the work forward. Since these compounds are peptides, clinical studies on humans may directly begin, without animals studies ", said T P Singh, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).Inflammation is a condition characterized by pain and swelling. It is associated with a number of diseases, more specifically, arthritis. The anti-inflammatory drugs, which are commercially available (NSAIDS), are associated with a number of adverse effects. However, this effect would not be seen in the newly discovered compounds as it contains peptides, a major component of tissue.
Another significant problem encountered with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) is the lack of target specificity. Moreover, the use of such drugs hinders the functioning of other enzymes that play a vital role in the metabolic process. The incidence of gastrointestinal problems is yet another disadvantage, that restricts use of painkillers.
