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FROM PLANT EXTRACTS TO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY GELS, HOW NSAIDS HAVE EVOLVED

by | Nov 21, 2024 | Featured, News

FROM PLANT EXTRACTS TO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY GELS, HOW NSAIDS HAVE EVOLVED

The history of the anti-inflammatory medicines dates back thousands of years, when plants containing salicylate were identified as beneficial in relieving pain and inflammation and lowering fevers1,2.

About 3 500 years ago, extracts of dried myrtle leaves were applied to the abdomen and the back to relieve rheumatic pains from the womb. Later, Hippocrates recommended the juices of willow bark to relieve the pain of childbirth and to reduce fever. All of these medicinal remedies contain salicylates1.

Fast forward to the mid-19th century, when salicylate compounds from plants were synthesised and acetyl-salicylic acid was developed. The chemical advances of the 19th and 20th centuries also lead to development of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), most of which were initially organic acids, but later non-acidic compounds were discovered3.

What started out as treatments to help control inflammation, pain and fever over the last two centuries, has led to the development of an enormous range and type of anti-inflammatory agents to treat a whole range of conditions3.

Benzydamine, a locally-acting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that also exhibited local anaesthetic and analgesic properties, was first developed by an Italian pharmaceutical company in the 1960s4,5. Its unique properties distinguished it from other NSAIDs, and today it is still used topically for the relief of pain and inflammation of the mouth, throat and musculoskeletal system4,6.

When used on the skin as a topical gel, Benzydamine helps to relieve pain and inflammation of musculoskeletal conditions such as myalgia and bursitis as well as sprains, strains, bruises or even the after-effects of fractures6.

Topical gels that contain Benzydamine Hydrochloride, such as Norflex® Gel, work to reduce pain and inflammation by reducing the production of hormone-like substances that promote the inflammatory response7,8.

Norflex® Gel is available as Norflex Gel 3% and a higher strength Norflex® Gel Forte 5%, which contains a higher concentration of Benzydamine to provide moderate relief of pain and inflammation8,9.

Thanks to herbal medicine many thousands of years ago, and to generations of scientists and researchers, there are more treatment options for those with sprains, strains and contusions that can reduce pain and inflammation in the area that it is applied3,7.

Ends

DISCLAIMER: This editorial has been commissioned and brought to you by iNova Pharmaceuticals. Content in this editorial is for general information only and is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice. For more information, speak to your health care professional.

Scheduling status: S0 Proprietary name and dosage form: NORFLEX® GEL (Gel). Composition: Each 100 g contains: Benzydamine hydrochloride 3,0 g. Registration number: 32/3.1/0547. Scheduling status: S1 Proprietary name and dosage form: NORFLEX® GEL FORTE (Gel). Composition: Each 100 g contains: Benzydamine hydrochloride 5,0 g. Registration number: 32/3.1/0391.

Further information is available on request from iNova Pharmaceuticals.  For more information speak to your health care professional.  Name and business address of applicant: iNova Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Limited. Co. Reg. No.1952/001640/07, 15E Riley Road, Bedfordview. Tel. No. 011 087 0000. www.inovapharma.co.za. IN4949/24.

References:

  1. Vane, JR and Botting RM. The history of anti-inflammatory drugs and their mechanism of Action (1996) at  https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-011-5386-7_1 (website accessed on 5 August 2024).
  2. Web MD. High Salicylate Foods (2023) at https://www.webmd.com/diet/high-salicylate-foods (website accessed on 5 August 2024).
  3. Rainsford, KD. National Library of Medicine. Anti-inflammatory drugs in the 21st century (2007) at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17612044/ (website accessed on 5 August 2024).
  4. PubChem. Compound Summary – Benzydamine (2024) at https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Benzydamine (website accessed on 5 August 2024).
  5. Angelini Pharma. Key facts and events (2024) at https://www.angelinipharma.com/who-we-are/history/ (website accessed on 5 August 2024).
  6. DrugBank. Benzydamine (2015) at https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB09084 (website accessed on 5 August 2024).
  7. Difflam Gel. Virtual Medical Centre. Difflam Gel (2018) at https://www.myvmc.com/drugs/difflam-gel/  (website accessed on 4 August 2024).
  8. Norflex® Gel approved professional information, November 2020.
  9. Norflex® Gel Forte approved professional information, November 2020.