A new method for evaluating the inhibitory effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on prostaglandin E2 production is presented. Minced rat intestinal tissue was incubated with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and homogenized. After centrifugation, prostaglandin E2 in the supernatant was measured by radioimmunoassay. The production of prostaglandin E2 was decreased by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in a concentration-dependent manner, the order of potency being diclofenac greater than loxoprofen greater than indomethacin greater than ibuprofen greater than TA-847 (imidazole derivative). Loxoprofen, a prodrug, inhibited the prostaglandin E2 production. In a classical enzyme assay with sheep seminal vesicle microsomal prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase, the order of inhibitory potency was TA-847 greater than diclofenac greater than indomethacin greater than ibuprofen. The inhibitory effect of loxoprofen was very weak. On the other hand, the potency order of these nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with regard to their anti-inflammatory effect as determined in the rat carrageenin-induced paw edema model, was loxoprofen greater than indomethacin greater than diclofenac greater than ibuprofen greater than TA-847. The results of the new method with intestinal tissue showed thus a good correlation with the anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.