Imidazole derivatives or salts thereof and drugs containing the derivatives or the salts

1. An imidazole derivative represented by formula (1), or a salt thereof:

wherein each of R 1 and R 2 , independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a halogen atom, an aryl group which may be substituted, or a heteroaryl group which may be substituted;

(1) A represents N or CH, and one of X 1 and X 2 represents N, the other represents CH, or (2) A represents N, and X 1 and X 2 each represents CH;

each of Y and Z, independently represents O, S, SO, SO 2 , CH 2 , NH, or N—R 6 , wherein R 6 represents an alkyl group, an aryl group which may be substituted, or a heteroaryl group which may be substituted;

each of R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 , independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a halogenoalkyl group, a nitro group, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, an acyl group, a carboxyl group, a carbamoyl group, a substituted amide group, a substituted sulfonamido group, or a phenyl group which may be substituted;

m is a number of 1 to 4;

and n is a number of 0 to 4.

2. The imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 , wherein

each of R 1 and R 2 , independently represents a hydrogen atom; an alkyl group; a halogen atom; a C6-C14 aryl group, which may have one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a nitro group, an amino group, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an alkylenedioxy group, and a halogenoalkyl group; or a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl group which has one or two atoms of nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen, and which may have one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a nitro group, an amino group, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an alkylenedioxy group, and a halogenoalkyl group;

(1) A represents N or CH, and one of X 1 and X 2 represents N, the other represents CH, or (2) A represents N, and X 1 and X 2 each represents CH;

each of Y and Z, independently represents O, S, SO, SO 2 , CH 2 , NH or N—R 6 , wherein R 6 represents an alkyl group; a C6-C14 aryl group, which maybe substituted by an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, or a sulfonamide group; or a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl group, which has one or two atoms of nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen, and which may be substituted by an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, or a sulfonamide group;

each of R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 , independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a halogenoalkyl group, a nitro group, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, an alkanoyl group, a carboxyl group, a carbamoyl group, an alkanoylamino group, an alkanesulfonamido group, or a phenyl group, which may be substituted by an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, or a sulfonamido group;

m is a number of 1 to 4; and

n is a number of 0 to 4.

3. A composition, comprising, as an active ingredient, the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 , and one or more additives.

4. A composition comprising, the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

5. A method of producing a drug, comprising contacting the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 , with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives.

6. A composition, comprising, as an active ingredient, an effective amount of the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 2 , and one or more additives.

7. A composition, comprising the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 2 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

8. A method of producing a drug, comprising, contacting the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 2 , with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives.

9. A method of inhibiting the production of nitric oxide and/or IL-6, comprising, administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

10. A method of inhibiting the production of nitric oxide and/or IL-6, comprising, administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, as recited in claim 2 .

11. A method of treating rheumatoid arthritis, comprising, administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

12. A method of treating rheumatoid arthritis, comprising, administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 2 .

13. A method of reducing edema, comprising, administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 1 .

14. A method of reducing edema, comprising, administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, according to claim 2 .

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, is administered at 0.1 to 1,000 mg per day.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the subject in need is a human or other mammal.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, is administered at 0.1 to 1,000 mg per day.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject in need is a human or other mammal.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the imidazole derivative, or a salt thereof, is administered at 0.1 to 1,000 mg per day.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the subject in need is a human or other mammal.