Prostaglandins belong to the class of eicosanoids (natural products derived from C20 fatty acids). Prostaglandins are biosynthetically produced from arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenases. The family of prostaglandines includes a variety of structurally related but differently functionalized molecules that share the cyclopentane core with two vicinal long hydrocarbon chains as common motif.
In our body, prostaglandines act in various ways as hormones by specific agonistic binding to prostaglandin receptors. Among the different responses arising from agonistic binding, prostaglandins induce vaso- and bronchodilation, smooth muscle contraction, pyrogenesis, pain sensation and inflammatory immune response.
The prostaglandin biosynthesis is a target of many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that act as inhibitors of cyclooxygenases.