Inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase by sulfasalazine and 5-aminosalicylic acid: a possible mode of action in ulcerative colitis

Leukotrienes, hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HPETE), and hydroxyeicostetraenoic acids (HETE) are products of arachidonic acid metabolism via the lipoxygenase pathway. They have been shown to be highly potent and stereospecific factors stimulating polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) migration and enhancing vascular permeability (15). Since sulfasalazine and 5-ASA inhibit the migration of PMNL, it seems possible that sulfasalazine and 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5-ASA) might be working in part through inhibition of the lipoxygenase pathway. To test the above hypothesis, the authors evaluated sulfasalazine and 5-ASA for possible lipoxygenase inhibitor activity.