Four new aryl-sulfonamide derivatives (3a, 4a, 5a-b), having methylenedioxy group attached to phenyl ring, were prepared from natural safrole and evaluated as anti-inflammatory agents. The N-methylsulfonamide 3a and corresponding retrosulfonamide derivative 5a were more active than standards indomethacin and nimesulide, at the same molar concentration, in carrageenan-induced pleurisy assay.