The present study aims at the synthesis of pyrazolines bearing benzothiazole and their evaluation as anti-inflammatory agents. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory potential using carrageenan induced paw edema model. Two compounds 5a and 5d alleviated inflammation more than the standard drug celecoxib. Eight compounds 5b, 5c, 5e, 5g, 5h, 6b, 6e and 6f showed anti-inflammatory activity comparable to celecoxib. To understand the mode of action, COX-2 enzyme assay and TNF-alpha assay were carried out. All the active compounds were assessed for their cytotoxicity. The ulcerogenic risk evaluation was performed on the active compounds that were not found to be cytotoxic. Out of ten active compounds, two compounds (5d and 6f) were finally found to be the most potent anti-inflammatory agents attributing to the suppression of the COX-2 enzyme activity and TNF-alpha production without being either cytotoxic or ulcerogenic. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.