A compound or agent that combines with cyclooxygenases (EC 1.14.99.1) and thereby prevents its substrate-enzyme combination with arachidonic acid and the formation of icosanoids, prostaglandins, and thromboxanes.
An anti-inflammatory drug that is not a steroid. In addition to anti-inflammatory actions, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions. They act by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to cyclic endoperoxides, precursors of prostaglandins.