Levels of prostaglandins and arachidonic acid in UV-B irradiated human skin before and after topical application of benzyl-2,5-diacetoxybenzoate, a salicylic acid derivative.

Benzyl-2,5-diacetoxybenzoate (BDAB) was tested for anti-inflammatory activity on experimentally inflamed skin. Human abdominal skin was irradiated with three minimal erythema doses of UV-B (290-320nm) radiation to give a maximum erythema at 24 hours with an associated rise in PGE2 and PGF2 alpha levels measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Topical application of a 1% w/w preparation of BDAB neither decreased the evoked erythema nor diminished the rise in PGE2 and PGF2 alpha concentrations. BDAB, applied topically, was judged to be ineffectual as an anti-inflammatory agent in UV-B erythema.