Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase: A Pharmaceutical Target for Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is one of the major contributing factors for human morbidity and corresponding treatment options are most important concern to alleviate human suffering. To reduce inflammation, the existing classical available drugs target cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. However, these treatment options are associated with side effects warranting the need for newer treatment options. Currently, inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) remains one of the most favourable targets to develop anti-inflammatory drugs. By increasing epoxy eicosatrienoic acids (EETs) levels and reducing dihydroxy eicosatrienoic acids (DHETs) levels, inhibitors of sEH show an effective biological activity. Increase in the level of EETs exhibit therapeutic potentials for several diseases associated with inflammation. Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors are reported to manage inflammation, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, dyslipidemia, pain, immunological disorders, eye diseases, and neurological diseases. This review will focus on the inhibition of sEH and its role in reducing inflammation.