Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in mouse 3T3 fibroblasts and human platelets by substituted phenols.

Several substituted phenols with antioxidant properties were potent reversible inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis in 3T3 cell cultures. The ID50's for prostaglandin (PG) E2 synthesis in these cells were 0.1 muM for 2,6-xylenol, 5 muM for tricresol, 6 muM for p-cresol, 7 muM for o-cresol, 15 muM for 3,5-xylenol, 30 muM for m-cresol and 100 muM for phenol. The corresponding values for aspirin and indomethacin were 4 muM and 0.02 muM, respectively. The substituted phenols also inhibited serotinin release, aggregation and prostaglandin synthesis in human platelets induced by arachidonic acid but not by PGG2.