Abstract: Novel cyclic hydroxamic acids of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein ring A is 5- or 6-membered; R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each, ipendently, is hydrogen, C1-24 alkyl, C2-24 alkenyl or a group of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 each, independently is hydrogen,C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, halogen or nitro; l is 1-3; m is 1-3; n is 1-3; k is 1-3;R.sup.6 and R.sup.9 each, independently is C1-24 alkylene or C2-24 alkenylene;With the proviso that, more than one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are not hydrogen at the same time; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof possesses an inhibitory activity against 12-lipoxygenase, and therefore, may be useful for treating and/or preventing inflammation, immune diseases, psoriasis, arteriosclerosis and/or ischaemic cardiovascular diseases and also for suppressing metastasis of cancer.