Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel 5-substituted-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-2-methylbenzimidazole derivatives as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents.

A series of novel 5-substituted-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-2-methylbenzimidazole derivatives have been synthesized. The structures of these compounds were established by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Mass spectral data and elemental analyses. Compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity as well as gastric ulcerogenic effects. Derivatives 4a, 4b and 4c exhibited moderate to good anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and acetic acid-induced writhing in mice, respectively, with low ulcerogenicity compared with the standard drug indomethacin.