Final answer:
Aspirin and ibuprofen inhibit the action of cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme crucial for the production of prostaglandins, which play a role in inflammation, pain, and fever.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aspirin and ibuprofen are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are commonly used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and lower fever. They function by blocking the action of cyclooxygenase (COX), which is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are involved in various bodily responses, including inflammation, pain, fever, and blood clotting.
Aspirin inactivates the COX enzyme by transferring an acetyl group to it, effectively blocking the synthesis pathway of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Similarly, ibuprofen inhibits the COX enzyme by binding with it, thus also preventing the production of prostaglandins.
These drugs do not affect the release of arachidonic acid from the plasma membrane, the actions of phospholipase A1, phospholipase A2, or the action of lipoxygenase; their inhibition is specifically targeted at cyclooxygenase enzymes, COX-1, and COX-2.