Aspirin-like drugs interfere with arachidonate metabolism by inhibition of the 12-hydroperoxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid peroxidase activity of the lipoxygenase pathway.

Abstract

Aspirin, indomethacin, and sodium salicylate are anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic. Whereas aspirin and indomethacin inhibit prostaglandin synthetase (cyclo-oxygenase; 8,11,14-eicosatrienoate, hydrogen-donor: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.99.1), salicylate does not. However, all three drugs affect the metabolism of arachidonate via the lipoxygenase pathway by inhibiting the conversion of 12-hydroperoxy- to 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid.