Antiinflammatory activity of four isomers of 2-(4-biphenylyl)-3-hydroxybutyric acid.

The degree of stereospecificity of the antiinflammatory activity of four isomers of 2-(4-biphenylyl)-3-hydroxybutyric acid was investigated in three different tests. The erythro compounds were the most active ones. As the "optical isomers effect" was not significant, this could indicate that the "diastereoisomer effect" is more important than optical isomerism.