Disclosed are compounds of formula (I):

##STR00001##

and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. Methods of treating neurological or psychiatric disease and disorders in a subject in need are also disclosed.

Disclosed are compounds of formula (I):

##STR00001##

and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. Methods of treating neurological or psychiatric disease and disorders in a subject in need are also disclosed.

Disclosed are compounds of formula (I):

##STR00001##

and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. Methods of treating neurological or psychiatric disease and disorders in a subject in need are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to the use of 3-arylphthalides and derivatives thereof as anti-inflammatory agents. The invention relates to the use of 3-arylphthalides, in particular 3-(4,5-dihydroxy-2-(2-5 ethylthio)ethylphenyl)phthalide and 3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)phthalide, as anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive agents in inflammatory processes in general, in diseases caused by underlying inflammation processes and in inflammatory processes related to the development of diabetes mellitus and its complications.

The present invention relates to the use of 3-arylphthalides and derivatives thereof as anti-inflammatory agents. The invention relates to the use of 3-arylphthalides, in particular 3-(4,5-dihydroxy-2-(2-5 ethylthio)ethylphenyl)phthalide and 3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)phthalide, as anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive agents in inflammatory processes in general, in diseases caused by underlying inflammation processes and in inflammatory processes related to the development of diabetes mellitus and its complications.

The present invention relates to novel compounds and their use as fragrance materials.

The present invention relates to novel compounds and their use as fragrance materials.

The present invention relates to a method for increasing the oxygen release efficiency of a hemoglobin-based blood substitute by using a phthalide compound, comprising the steps of: administering to a subject in need thereof the phthalide compound or co-administering to the subject in need thereof the phthalide compound along with the hemoglobin-based blood substitute, wherein the phthalide compound has an effect of increasing the oxygen release efficiency of the hemoglobin-based blood substitute, wherein the hemoglobin-based blood substitute can be fetal hemoglobin (HbF) or other Hb variants retaining two native subunits. The phthalide compound is used to substitute for or cooperate with 2,3-BPG, to play a role of a 2,3-BPG substitute, to act on the hemoglobin-based blood substitute to effectively substitute the function of normal hemoglobin in releasing oxygen to tissue cells, in order to maintain the cellular oxygenation level within a normal range.

The invention is directed to a method of treatment for chronic pain, the method comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention is directed to a method of treatment for chronic pain, the method comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.