Methods and compounds useful for inhibiting a phoshpolipase A2 are provided, the methods comprising contacting the phoshpolipase A2 with a compound having the structure A, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: wherein R1 is H, F, NH2, or COOH; R2 is, H, linear saturated or unsaturated alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl; each of R3 and R4 is independently H, linear saturated or unsaturated alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, or substituted phenyl; R5 is H, (C1-C6) alkyl such as methyl or ethyl; X is aryl or substituted aryl, such as phenyl or a substituted phenyl; and Y is O or S.