[The effect of benzydamine on prostaglandin synthesis in macrophages].

The influence of benzydamine (Tantum) on the prostaglandin metabolism of rat peritoneal macrophages was studied. Contrary to conventional non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, e.g. piroxicam and acetylsalicylic acid, benzydamine did not inhibit PGE1/2 synthesis, but was rather stimulatory at 10(-4) mol/l. The increase of PGE1/2 synthesis might be explained by the inhibition of the lysophosphatide acyltransferase. This enzyme together with the arachidonic acid liberating phospholipase A2 regulates the concentration of arachidonic acid by the reincorporation into membrane phospholipids. Enhanced arachidonic acid may be metabolized via the cyclooxygenase to prostanoids.