Abstract
This chapter is a comprehensive account of the medicinal chemistry of drugs
arising from structural modifications of prostanoids, which are naturally occurring
eicosanoids. These drugs are used for a variety of diseases including but not limited to
glaucoma, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and peptic ulcers. This chapter provides the
mechanism of drug action and structure-activity relationships (SAR) of these drugs.
After studying this chapter, students will be able to:
• Describe the historical background of prostanoids as clinical agents.
• Explain the structure, functions, classifications and biosynthesis of eicosanoids.
• Discuss in detail the chemistry and SAR of the prostanoids involved in the treatment
of glaucoma, pulmonary arterial hypertension, peptic ulcer, and other diseases.
• Delineate the clinical significance and therapeutic evaluations of these classes of
drugs by solving case studies.
• Explain the discovery process of latanoprost and zafirlukast.