Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of Oligoethylene Ester Derivatives as Indomethacin Oral Prodrugs

Five indomethacin oligoethylene ester derivatives (3–7) were synthesized and evaluated for their anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, and ulcerogenic activity after oral administration. The molecular weight of the oligoethylene glycols used for synthesizing esters3–7ranged from 106 to 282. The chemical and enzymatic stabilities of esters3–7were evaluated in pH 7.4 and 2.0 buffers and in human plasma, respectively. All the prodrugs showed a good stability both in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer and in pH 2.0 buffer, and they were readily hydrolyzed by human plasma. Esters3–7showed an anti‐inflammatory activity, determined as the percent inhibition of carrageenan‐induced edema, similar to that of indomethacin, although at higher doses. From writhing test results, we observed that all the prodrugs exhibited better or similar analgesic activity compared to indomethacin. Esters3–7were significantly less irritating to the gastric mucosa than indomethacin, after oral administration, and esters3–5did not show any ulcerogenic activity, although they were administered at higher doses than indomethacin.