Effects of 12 compounds including 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitors and antiallergic drugs on the activity of 5-LO from the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) of guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, monkeys and humans were examined. The 5-LO activity was inhibited by the drugs according to the following orders of efficacy: Guinea pig 5-LO, 5-HDHDMF greater than TZI-2721 greater than NDGA greater than AA861 greater than FPL55712 greater than isoproterenol; rat 5-LO, 5-HDHDMF greater than AA861 greater than TZI-2721 greater than NDGA greater than FPL55712 greater than KP-136 greater than MCI-826 greater than benoxaprofen; and rabbit 5-LO, 5-HDHDMF greater than TZI-2721 greater than NDGA greater than AA861 greater than FPL55712 greater than KP-136 greater than MCI-826. The 5-LO activity from the rhesus monkey was dose-dependently inhibited by only 3 compounds, 5-HDHDMF greater than NDGA greater than TZI-2721, in this order, but the other compounds, except for AA861, did not show any effect on this activity. In humans, 5-LO activity was inhibited in the following order: TZI-2721 greater than 5-HDHDMF greater than NDGA greater than AA861 greater than FPL55712. From these results, it was strongly suggested that there is a species difference of this enzyme in its sensitivity to drugs.