Anti-inflammatory modalities

1 . Use of a compound of formula (I) in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an inflammatory disease, wherein the compound of formula (I) is: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and salts thereof wherein: 
         R 1  and R 2  are independently hydroxy, alkoxy or acyloxy, 
         R 3  is hydroxy, alkoxy, alkyl or halo, and 
         X is either ═O or hydrogen and hydroxy. 
       
     
     
         2 . Use according to  claim 1 , wherein R 1  and R 2  are hydroxy. 
     
     
         3 . Use according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein R 3  is methyl, bromo, chloro or hydroxy. 
     
     
         4 . Use according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein X is ═O and the compounds are isoflavan-4-ones of the formula (Ia): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and wherein 
         R 3  is 5-alkyl, 6-halo or 8-halo, 
       
     
     
         5 . Use according to  claim 4 , wherein R 3  is 5-methyl, 6-chloro or 8-bromo. 
     
     
         6 . Use according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherin X is hydrogen and hydroxy and the compounds are isoflavan-4-ols of the formula (Ib): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and wherein 
         R3 is 8-alkyl or 8-hydroxy. 
       
     
     
         7 . Use according to  claim 6 , wherein R 3  is 8-methyl or 8-hydroxy. 
     
     
         8 . Use according to  claim 1 , wherein the compound is an 8-substituted isoflavonoid compound of the formula (Ic): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and salts thereof wherein 
         R 1  and R 2  are independently hydroxy, alkoxy or acyloxy, 
         R 3  is hydroxy, alkyl or halo, and 
         X is either ═O or hydrogen and hydroxy. 
       
     
     
         9 . Use according to  claim 8 , wherein
 R 1  and R 2  are hydroxy, and   R 3  is hydroxy, methyl or bromo.   
     
     
         10 . Use according to  claim 1  wherein the compound of formula (I) is selected from compounds 1 to 5: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof 
       
     
     
         11 . Use according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 , wherein the inflammatory disease or disorder is selected from osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease), ulcerative proctitis, distal colitis, autoimmune disorders (SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis), asthma and diseases involving pulmonary inflammation, cardiovascular disorders including atherosclerosis, hypertension and lipid dyscrasias and disorders associated with estrogen receptor activation. 
     
     
         12 . Use according to  claim 11 , wherein the treatment is for pain, oedema and/or erythema associated with inflammation. 
     
     
         13 . Use according to any one of  claims 1  to  12 , wherein the treatment of the inflammatory disorder is absent cardiovascular side effects, is cardioprotective and/or is gut protective. 
     
     
         14 . Use of a thromboxane synthase inhibitor for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of inflammation, including pain associated with inflammation. 
     
     
         15 . Use according to  claim 14 , wherein the treatment is cardioprotective and/or gut protective. 
     
     
         16 . A pharmaceutical agent comprising a compound of formula (I) according to any one of  claims 1  to  10  for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and disorders or as a thromboxane synthase inhibitor.