Study of Anthranylic Acid Derivatives: Mefenamic Acid and Its Various Analogues

Anthranylic acid derivatives are direct structural analogs of salicylic acid derivatives. They possess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity. They are similar to pyrazolones in terms of analgesic and antipyretic activity, yet they exceed the anti-inflammatory activity of salicylates. The mechanism of action of this series of nonsteroid, anti-inflammatory analgesics is not conclusively known. One of the early advances in the search for nonnarcotic analgesics was centered in the N-arylanthranilic acids. The outstanding characteristic of mefenamic acid is primarily anti-inflammatory , and secondarily, some possess analgesic properties.