Aug. 20, 2014 /BIOVALE BIOON/ – Popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen, work by inhibiting or killing an enzyme called cyclooxygenase, which catalyzes the production of the hormone-like lipid compound prostaglandin, which in turn is directly linked to the onset of a variety of diseases, such as headaches, arthritis, menstrual cramps and wound sepsis, among others. In a recent research paper published in the international journal PNAS, researchers from? University of California researchers suggest that aspirin may have a second effect by not only inhibiting the activity of cyclooxygenase, which blocks the production of prostaglandins that trigger inflammation and pain; but also by promoting the production of enzymes that accelerate the end of inflammation, thereby restoring affected cells to a healthy state. According to researcher Edward A. Dennis, aspirin promotes the production of many small amounts of a related compound called 15-HETE by cyclooxygenase, which can be converted to lipoxygen during infection and inflammation, which can help reverse inflammation and restore the body’s health. In the article, the researchers studied leukocytes called macrophages, the body’s main immune system defense cells against injury and infection, and found that macrophages contain many biochemical tools that not only mimic the inflammatory response but also restore the body’s health by releasing 15-HETE and converting cyclooxygenase into lipoxygenin as the inflammatory process occurs. This study provides new ideas and hope for researchers to develop new targeted anti-inflammatory drugs and therapies based on lipoxygenin analogs, which may be more effective in helping humans fight off infections if researchers discover ways to promote inflammation recovery.