Abstract: We disclose a method of inhibiting activity of adenylyl cyclase or guanylyl cyclase in a mammal by administering to the mammal an amount of a composition effective to inhibit the activity, wherein the composition contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of structural formulae (Ia) and (Ib) and salts thereof, wherein R1 is —H or has the structure —C(?O)R8; R2 is ?O or has the structure —OC(?O)R9; and R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are each independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —NO2, formula (I), -halogen, —OC(?O)R9, —OR9, —OH, —R8OH, —CH3, —OC(?O)CH2Ph, formulae (II), (III), (IV), —OPh, —CF3, —R8, —C(?O)OR9, -Ph, —R8Ph, formulae (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII), (IX), (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), (XIV), (XV), (XVI), (XVII), (XVIII), (XIX), (XX), and (XXI), wherein each R8 is independently a linear or branched hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and each R9 is independently a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms.