Indomethacin is a potent but non-selective inhibitor of both COX-1 and COX-2 in sheep and humans.1 Structurally, indomethacin is a substituted indole acetic acid, wherein the carboxylate can be derivatized as an ester or amide. These derivatives show enhanced selectivity for the COX-2 isoform. For example, the IC50 for indomethacin heptyl ester for the inhibition of human recombinant COX-2 is 0.04 µM, making it more than 1,700 times more potent as an inhibitor of COX-2 than COX-1.2 While indomethacin itself has an IC50 of 0.05 µM for the inhibition of COX-2, it also inhibits COX-1 with a corresponding IC50 of 0.67 µM.2
1
Barnett, J., Chow, J., Ives, D., et al. Purification, characterization and selective inhibition of human prostaglandin G/H synthase 1 and 2 expressed in the baculovirus system. Biochim Biophys Acta1209130-139(1994).
2
Kalgutkar, A.S., Marnett, A.B., Crews, B.C., et al. Ester and amide derivatives of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, indomethacin, as selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. J Med Chem432860-2870(2000).
Barnett, J., Chow, J., Ives, D., et al. Purification, characterization and selective inhibition of human prostaglandin G/H synthase 1 and 2 expressed in the baculovirus system. Biochim Biophys Acta1209130-139(1994).
Kalgutkar, A.S., Marnett, A.B., Crews, B.C., et al. Ester and amide derivatives of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, indomethacin, as selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. J Med Chem432860-2870(2000).
Indomethacin heptyl ester is available in the following screening
library: