| abstract |
The present invention provides compounds, compositions, and methods for the treatment of disorders and conditions mediated by PPARα. The invention relates to the surprising discovery that oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is an endogenous high affinity and selective ligand of PPARα. The compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, specific PPARα agonists sharing the receptor binding properties of OEA and fatty acid alkanolamides and their homologs which also are PPARα agonists. Such OEA-like compounds include, but are not limited to, compounds of the following formula: n n nin which n is from 0 to 5, the sum of a and b can be from 0 to 4; Z is a member selected from the group consisting of —C(O)N(R o )—; —(R o )NC(O)—; —OC(O)—; —(O)CO—; O; NR o ; and S; and wherein R o and R 2 are members independently selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted or unsubstituted alkyl, hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, and lower (C 1 -C 6 ) acyl, and wherein up to eight hydrogen atoms are optionally substituted by methyl or a double bond, and the bond between carbons c and d may be unsaturated or saturated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. |