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A Possible Basis for the Anti-inflammatory Activity of Salicylates and other Non-Hormonal Anti-Rheumatic Drugs

Abstract

RECENT studies have shown that sodium salicylate and acetyl-salicylic acid increase oxygen consumption in rats, rabbits and man1–3. Sproull has shown that both sodium salicylate and 2 : 4-dinitrophenol stimulate metabolism in mouse-liver slices4, but has recently found a difference between the slopes of the concentration–response curves for the two compounds5. Reid has also directed attention to these similarities, and has shown that both compounds inhibit the growth of wheat coleoptiles6. Cochran3 suggested that the stimulation of respiration by salicylate may be of fundamental importance in the therapeutic action of the drug.

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ADAMS, S., COBB, R. A Possible Basis for the Anti-inflammatory Activity of Salicylates and other Non-Hormonal Anti-Rheumatic Drugs. Nature 181, 773–774 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/181773b0

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