ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SOME NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-RHEUMATIC DRUGS

Abstract

Based upon some reports indicating the role of bacterial pathogens in rheumatoid arthritis, this study was undertaken to determine the anti-bacterial activity of some non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs including some of their copper(II) complexes. Thus, D-penicillamine, levanisole, flurbiprofen, tiaprofenic acid, pirprofen, ketoprofen, sulphasalazine, phenylbutazone, aspirin, Cu(II)-aspirinate, Cu(II)-penicillamine and some Cu(II)-amino acid complexes (possible active metabolites of the copper complexes of the drugs) were tested for their anti-bacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All the compounds exhibited from moderate to high activity against one or more strains. These results substantiate the speculated role of bacterial pathogens in the causation and/or perpetuation of rheumatoid arthritis.