Abstract: A method is provided for treating inflammatory respiratory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The method involves administration, preferably oral or pulmonary administration, of an active agent selected from the group consisting of resveratrol, pharmacologically acceptable salts, esters, amides, prodrugs and analogs thereof, and combinations of any of the foregoing. Pharmaceutical formulations for use in conjunction with the aforementioned method are provided as well.

Abstract: A screening method for identifying a drug-like compound or lead compound for the development of a drug-like compound in which (1) a xanthine or related compound is exposed to a histone deacetylase, (2) the binding of the compound to the histone deacetylase is measured or the change in the activity of the histone deacetylase is measured or the change in the binding of the histone deacetylase to activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is measured and (3) any compound capable of the required binding to the histone deacetylase or producing the required change in the activity of the histone deacetylase or its binding to activated glucocorticoid receptor is identified. Methods of treatment make use of compounds identifiable by the screening methods.