The present invention relates to Pyridin-2-yl sulfanyl acid ester compounds having antiinflammatory properties. The present invention particularly relates to novel anti-inflammatory heterocyclic acid esters of Pyridin-2-yl sulfanyl having the structure of general formula 1 which have been screened for their antiinflammatory activity with respect to inhibition of adhesion of neutrophils, isolated from human peripheral blood, onto the surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as a result of inhibition of the cytokine-stimulated expression of cell adhesion molecule ICAM-1. The compound RS-Z, 3-(Pyridin-2-yl sulfanyl)-propionic acid pentyl ester (structure la, R1 = H, R2 = H, R3 = CH2COOC5H11) was found to be most effective for ICAM-1 and neutrophil adhesion inhibition and was found to effectively alleviate inflammation mediated by excessive leukocyte infiltration leading to inflammatory disorders or like conditions, such as acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome in mice.
