The compounds were discovered in 1990 by L. Jackson Roberts and Jason D. Morrow in the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University.
[1][2] [3][4] These nonclassical eicosanoids possess potent biological activity as inflammatory mediators that augment the perception of pain.
[5] These compounds are accurate markers of lipid peroxidation in both animal and human models of oxidative stress.
Elevated levels of isoprostanes are suspected of contributing to increased risk of heart attack in patients taking Coxibs[citation needed].
Each of the classes comprise up to eight racemic isomers, leading to an astounding number of isoprostane molecules.