Synthesis and biological evaluation of new heteroaryl carboxylic acid derivatives as anti-inflammatory-analgesic agents.

A series of nicotinic acid derivatives structurally related to niflumic acid and certain pyridazine-containing compounds have been synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectral data. All compounds were screened for their potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The compounds which displayed analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were tested for ulcerogenicity and screened for in vivo inhibition of certain inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Compounds 1c, 2a, 2b, and 5a have shown potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.