Fig. 1. The role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in prostaglandin (PG) synthesis. Prostaglandins (PGD², PGE², PGF²-α, and PGI²) and thromboxanes (TXA²), which are important in inflammation and homeostasis, are products of a biochemical cascade by which membrane phospholipids are converted to arachidonic acid, then to intermediate prostaglandins (PGG²and PGH²) by cyclooxygenase, and to their final products by a series of synthases. NSAID = nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug. Adapted from Myoshi. 41