Title:Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activities of Naproxen and Naproxen Derivatives
VOLUME: 20 ISSUE: 13
Author(s):M. İhsan Han and Ş. Güniz Küçükgüzel*
Affiliation:Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, Talas, 38030, Kayseri, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Marmara University, Basibuyuk, 34854, Istanbul
Keywords:Naproxen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, side effect, anticancer, antimicrobial, COX-2 enzyme.
Abstract:This review explains the effects of naproxen and the naproxen moiety in important biological
activities. Naproxen, 2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propionic acid, is one of the most utilized propionic
acid derivatives to the cure of many injuries or pains. Naproxen is a non-steroidal antiinflammatory
drug (NSAID), which is generally used among the NSAIDs. Even though it has gastrointestinal
side effects, naproxen has been safely used for many years because of the good cardiovascular
sight. In the past years, except for anti-inflammatory effects, other pharmacological activities of
naproxen, especially anticancer and antimicrobial activities, gain the attention of researchers. Naproxen
shows its activity by inhibiting the COX-2 enzyme. There is significant interest in the possibility
that COX-2 inhibitors might retard or prevent the development of various cancer types, which is often
characterized by COX-2 expression. The activities of both naproxen and new molecules derived from
naproxen were frequently investigated.