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The antioxidative and/or free-radical-scavenging activities of R-()and S-(+)ibuprofen enantiomers, as well as of the drug racemate, were studied in vitro on measuring the kinetics of (uninhibited or drug-inhibited) degradation of high molecular weight hyaluronan by hydroxyl radicals. The continual flux of OH radicals radicals at aerobic conditions was maintained by the H2O2 + Cu 2+ system. The kinetics of hyaluronan degradation was monitored indirectly by capillary viscometry. Under experimental conditions, with no drug addition, the relative viscosity ([? ]rel.) decreased continuously, reaching 13% of the initial [? ]rel. value in in 4 h. Each drug tested exhibited a dose-dependent protective effect against hyaluronan degradation, however R-()-ibuprofen demonstrated a slightly greater activity than the drug S-(+)-enantiomer. © 2001 Prous Science. All rights reserved.