New antiinflammatory agents 4-hydroxy-2(1H)-oxo-1-phenyl-1,8-naphthyridine-3- carboxamides 7 were designed and synthesized via a valuable intermediate, 1-phenyl-2H-pyrido[2,3-d][1,3]oxazine-2,4(1H)-dione (9). The nature of substituents on the amide nitrogen had a pronounced effect on antiinflamatory activity. Studies of structure-activity relationships led to compounds 33 and 34 bearing a pyridine ring on the amide nitrogen. Compounds 33 and 34 were active against carrageenin-, zymosan-, and arachidonic acid-induced rat paw edemas and also potently inhibited the reversed passive Arthus reaction in rats. Thus, they possess a broader spectrum of antiinflammatory activity than the classical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indomethacin and piroxicam.

These results suggest that M (an active metabolite of erdosteine) may exert an antiinflammatory effect by scavenging inflammatory cells-derived reactive oxygen species.

The effect of erdosteine, a mucoactive drug, on hypochlorous acid (HOCl)-induced lung injury, and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced increase in tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production and neutrophil recruitment into the airway, was investigated. Male BALB/c mice were orally administered erdosteine (3-100 mgkg(-1)), ambroxol hydrochloride (ambroxol) (3-30 mgkg(-1)), S-carboxymethyl-L-cysteine (S-CMC) (100-600 mgkg(-1)) or prednisolone (10 mgkg(-1)), 1 h before intratracheal injection of HOCl or LPS. In the HOCl-injected mice, erdosteine markedly suppressed increases in the ratios of lung wet weight to bodyweight and lung dry weight to bodyweight, whereas the other mucoactive drugs ambroxol and S-CMC had little effect. Erdosteine also inhibited the LPS-induced neutrophil influx, although it did not affect the increased level of TNF-alpha in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The results suggest that attenuation of reactive oxygen species and neutrophil recruitment is involved in the clinical efficacy of erdosteine in the treatment of chronic bronchitis.

To investigate the influence of erdosteine, a new homocysteine-derived expectorant, on airway clearance we studied the effects of the drug on the viscosity of mucin, on the mucociliary transport rate in quails, on airway secretion in rats and on the cough reflex in guinea-pigs. The active metabolite of erdosteine, M1 (10 microM to 1 mM), significantly reduced the viscosity of porcine stomach mucin. Erdosteine by itself did not reduce viscosity. Erdosteine significantly promoted mucociliary transport in quails and increased airway secretion in rats. The effect was still apparent 24h after administration. Erdosteine significantly suppressed citric acid-induced cough reflexes in guinea-pigs but did not suppress mechanical stimuli-induced cough reflexes. Erdosteine suppressed the reduction of the recovery volume of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and albumin leakage into the fluid in citric acid-exposed guinea-pigs. These results indicate that erdosteine removes sputum by reducing its viscosity, and by promoting mucociliary transport and sustained enhancement of airway secretion. It also suppressed the chemical stimulation-induced cough reflex and plasma leakage into the airway. These results suggest that erdosteine is an excellent expectorant with several modes of action.

Erdosteine (CAS 84611-23-4) and its active metabolite (M1) decrease the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL). In this study, the scavenging effects of erdosteine and M1 on each reactive oxygen species, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2-), were investigated. M1 interacted with HOCl at high activity, whereas erdosteine exhibited low activity. Although erdosteine interacted with H2O2 only at 1 mmol/l, M1 could significantly decrease H2O2 (> 0.1 mmol/l). Erdosteine and M1 did not interact with O2-. These results suggest that M1 possesses scavenging activities against H2O2 and HOCl in vitro.