A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Aminosalicylates are anti-inflammatory agents used to treat inflammatory bowel disease and some forms of arthritis. They work by inhibiting the production of cyclo-oxygenase and prostaglandin, thromboxane synthetase, platelet activating factor synthetase, and interleukin-1 by macrophages so reduces the acute inflammatory response in inflammatory bowel disease.
Production of immunoglobulin by plasma cells is also decreased.
Aminosalicylates are used to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis and Crohn's disease.
