The invention relates to compositions comprising substituted imidazoline compounds including prodrugs, and salts thereof. In some embodiments, the invention relates to the use of these compositions as therapeutic agents, preferably for the treatment of arthritis or cancer. In further embodiments, The invention relates to the pharmaceutical compositions with effective amounts of substituted imidazoline compounds disclosed herein that function as agonist or antagonists of the genetic expression or interactions with transcription factor NF-ϰB.