Application
Flurbiprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAIA) with antipyretic, analgesic, and antifungal activity. Oral formulations of flurbiprofen may be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and anklylosing spondylitis. Flurbiprofen is also used topically during ocular surgery to prevent or reduce intraoperative miosis. Flurbiprofen is structurally and pharmacologically related to ibuprofen. It is used to study the pathophysiological steps of NSAID enteropathy in the rat1 and the biotransformation of flurbiprofen by Cunninghamella species2.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Fluibiprofen is a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, which is an enzyme responsible for the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin G2 (PGG2) and PGG2 to prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) in the prostaglandin synthesis pathway. This decreases the prostaglandins which cause inflammation, pain, swelling and fever. Flurbiprofen inhibits the activity of both COX-1 and -2. The S enantiomer inhibits prostaglandin synthesis and has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, while the R enantiomer does not inhibit prostaglandin synthesis and displays only analgesic activity.