Anti-Inflammatory Agents

The use of an ecteinascidin compound of general formula (I):

• wherein:
• R5 is OH, alkoxy or alkanoyloxy;
• R6 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl;
• R12 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl;
• R16 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl;
• R17 is OH, alkoxy or alkanoyloxy;
• R18 is OH, alkoxy or alkanoyloxy;
• R21 is H, OH, CN or another nucleophilic group;
• and
• Ra is hydrogen and Rb is optionally substituted amino, or
• Ra with Rb form a carbonyl function ═O, or
• Ra, Rb and the carbon to which they are attached form a tetrahydroisoquinoline group in the preparation of a medicament for use in a method according to any preceding claim.

A medicament for treatment of inflammation comprising an ecteinascidin compound of general formula (I):

• wherein:
• R5 is OH, alkoxy or alkanoyloxy;
• R6 is hydrogen, alky, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl;
• R12 is hydrogen, alky, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl;
• R16 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl;
• R17 is OH, alkoxy or alkanoyloxy;
• R18 is OH, alkoxy or alkanoyloxy;
• R21 is H, OH, CN or another nucleophilic group;
• and
• Ra is hydrogen and Rb is optionally substituted amino, or
• Ra with Rb form a carbonyl function ═O, or
• Ra, Rb and the carbon to which they are attached form a tetrahydroisoquinoline group, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.