Xian-Qing Deng

Design and synthesis of 10-alkoxy-5, 6-dihydro-triazolo[4,3-d]benzo[f][1,4]oxazepine derivatives with anticonvulsant activity.

A series of novel 10-alkoxy-5, 6-dihydro-triazolo[4,3-d]benzo[f][1,4]oxazepine derivatives were synthesized and screened for their anticonvulsant activities by the maximal electroshock (MES) test and their neurotoxicity was evaluated by the rotarod neurotoxicity test (Tox). In the MES test, compound 10-Heptyloxy-5, 6-dihydro-triazolo[4,3-d]benzo[f][1,4]oxazepine (8f) was found to possess better anticonvulsant activity and higher safety than marketed drugs carbamazepine and phenytoin with an ED(50) value of 6.9 mg/kg a PI value of 9.5. To explain the possible mechanism of anticonvulsant activity, compound 8f was tested in pentylenetetrazole, isoniazid, thiosemicarbazide, 3-mercaptopropionic acid and Bicuculline induced seizures tests. The results suggest that compound 8f exerts anticonvulsant activity through GABA-mediated mechanism.

Short communication - N-palmitoylethanolamide, an endocannabinoid, exhibits antidepressant effects in the forced swim test and the tail suspension test in mice

The antidepressant-like effects of N-palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a putative endocannabinoid, was investigated in mice using the tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST). In TST, PEA (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) produced a statistically significant reduction in immobility (50, 32, and 34%, respectively, vs. the control group), whereas fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) reduced immobility by 38%. In FST, PEA (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) produced a statistically significant reduction in immobility (15, 21, and 36%, respectively), whereas fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) reduced immobility by 18%. Moreover, PEA (20 mg/kg) did not significantly change motor activity in a spontaneous behavioral test. In conclusion, PEA (dose range of 5-40 mg/kg) administered orally reduced immobility in TST and FST, comparable to the antidepressant effect of fluoxetine, and had no effect on spontaneous activity in mice.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity evaluation of some novel 6-alkoxy (phenoxy)-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-amine derivatives

Starting from phthalic anhydride, several new 6-alkoxy(phenoxy)-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-amine derivatives were synthesized as potent anti-inflammatory agent. The study showed that the compounds 6h (6-(2-chlorophenoxy)-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-amine) and 6s (6-(4-aminophenoxy)-[1,2,4] triazolo[3,4-a]phthalazine-3-amine) exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory activity (81% and 83% inhibition, respectively, at 0.5 h after i.p. administration) which were slightly more potent than the reference drug Ibuprofen (61%). Furthermore, the peak activity of 6h and 6s was observed at the 3 h after p.o. administration, and they exhibited stronger anti-inflammatory activity than Ibuprofen at the dose of 50 mg/kg at the peak time.

Synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of rhodanine derivatives as potential anti-bacterial agents

Five series of (Z)-5-(4-(2-oxo-2-phenylethoxy)benzylidene)-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one derivatives (I-V) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for their anti-bacterial activity. Most of the synthesized compounds showed potent inhibition against several Gram-positive bacteria (including multidrug-resistant clinical isolates) with MIC values in the range of 1-32 μg/mL. Compounds IIIi, Vb and Vc presented the most potent activity, showing four-fold more potency than norfloxacin (MIC = 8 μg/mL and 4 μg/mL) and 64-fold more activity than oxacillin (MIC > 64 μg/mL) against MRSA CCARM 3167 and 3506 strains with MIC values of 1 μg/mL, and 64-fold more potency than norfloxacin (MIC > 64 μg/mL) and comparable activity to oxacillin (MIC = 1 μg/mL) against the QRSA CCARM 3505 and 3519 strains. None of the compounds exhibited any activity against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli 1356 at 64 μg/mL.

Evaluation of the anticonvulsant activity of 6-(4-chlorophenyoxy)-tetrazolo[5,1-a]phthalazine in various experimental seizure models in mice

This study investigated the anticonvulsant activity of a new phthalazine tetrazole derivative, QUAN-0808 (6-(4-chlorophenoxy)-tetrazolo[5,1-a]phthalazine), in the mouse maximal electroshock (MES) seizure model. The neurotoxicity of QUAN-0808 was investigated using the rotarod neurotoxicity test in mice. QUAN-0808 exhibited higher activity (median effective dose, ED(50) = 6.8 mg/kg) and lower neurotoxicity (median toxic dose, TD(50) = 456.4 mg/kg), resulting in a higher protective index (PI = 67.1) compared with carbamazepine (PI = 6.4). In addition, QUAN-0808 exhibited significant oral anticonvulsant activity (ED(50) = 24 mg/kg) against MES-induced seizure with low neurotoxicity (TD(50) > 4500 mg/kg) in mice, resulting in a PI value of more than 187.5. QUAN-0808 was also tested in chemically induced animal models of seizure (pentylenetetrazole [PTZ], isoniazid [ISO], thiosemicarbazide [THIO] and 3-mercaptopropionic acid [3-MP]) to further investigate the anticonvulsant activity; QUAN-0808 produced significant anticonvulsant activity against seizures induced by ISO, THIO and 3-MP.

Synthesis and Evaluation on Anticonvulsant and Antidepressant Activities of 5-Alkoxy-tetrazolo(1,5- a)quinazolines

Several 5‐alkoxy‐tetrazolo[1,5‐a]quinazoline derivatives have been synthesized by reacting 2,4‐dichloroquinazoline with various phenols or aliphatic alcohol and then with sodium azide. The structures of these compounds have been confirmed by IR, MS, 1H‐NMR, and elementary analysis. Anticonvulsant activities were evaluated using the maximal electroshock (MES) test. Most of the synthesized compounds displayed weak anticonvulsant activity at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Antidepressant activities were investigated by forced swimming test. Two compounds, namely 5‐(hexyloxy)tetrazolo[1,5‐a]quinazoline and 5‐(4‐methoxyphenoxy)tetrazolo[1,5‐a]quinazoline, showed significant antidepressant activity, which decreased the immobility time by 62.2 and 51.7% at 100 mg/kg dose level.

Synthesis and Anticonvulsant Activity Evaluation of 5-Phenyl-(1,2,4)triazolo(4,3-c)quinazolin-3-amines

In the present study we describe the syntheses and anticonvulsant activity evaluation of 5‐phenyl‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐c]quinazolin‐3‐amine derivatives. Their anticonvulsant activity and neurotoxicity were evaluated by the maximal electroshock seizure test (MES) and the rotarod test, respectively. The majority of the compounds prepared were effective in the MES screens at a dose level of 100 mg/kg. Of these compounds, the most promising was compound 8h, which showed an ED50 value of 27.4 mg/kg and a protective index (PI) value of 5.8. These values were superior to those provided by valproate (ED50 and PI values of 272 and 1.6, respectively) in the MES test in mice. As well as its anti‐MES efficacy, the potencies of compound 8h against seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole and thiosemicarbazide were also established, with the results suggesting that the GABAergic system‐mediated mechanisms might be involved in its anticonvulsant activity.

Synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of rhodanine-based 5-aryloxy pyrazoles against selected methicillin resistant and quinolone-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and QRSA)

With an intention to synergize the anti-bacterial activity of 5-aryloxy pyrazole and rhodanine derivatives, eight series of hybrid compounds have been synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial activity. The majority of the synthesized compounds showed good inhibitory activity against selected methicillin resistant and quinolone-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, QRSA) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the range of 1-32 μg/mL. The cytotoxicity test suggests that these compounds exhibited in vitro antibacterial activity at non-cytotoxic concentrations. These studies therefore suggest that rhodanine-based 5-aryloxy pyrazoles are interesting scaffolds for the development of novel Gram-positive antibacterial agents.

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of 7-phenyl-6,7-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-5(4H)-ones and their derivatives.

Herein, we described the syntheses and anticonvulsant activities of 7-(substituted-phenyl)-6,7-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-5(4H)-ones (1a-1o) and their derivatives. Most of the synthesized compounds exhibited potent anticonvulsant activities in the maximal electroshock test (MES). The most promising compound 1i showed significant anticonvulsant activity in MES test with ED(50) value of 19.7 mg/kg. It displayed a wide margin of safety with protective index much higher than the standard drugs. In addition, the potence of compound 1i against seizures induced by Pentylenetetrazole, Isoniazid, Thiosemicarbazide, 3-Mercaptopropionic acid, and Bicuculline in the chemical-induced seizure tests suggested that compound 1i displayed broad spectrum activity in several models, and it is likely to have several mechanisms of action including inhibiting voltage-gated ion channels and modulating GABAergic activity.

Synthesis and evaluation of anticonvulsant and antidepressant activities of 5-alkoxytetrazolo[1,5-c]thieno[2,3-e]pyrimidine derivatives.

A series of 5-alkoxytetrazolo[1,5-c]thieno[2,3-e]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized and their anticonvulsant and antidepressant activities were evaluated. Pharmacological tests showed that four of the synthesized compounds had weak anticonvulsant activity, while most of the compounds had excellent antidepressant activity. The most active compound was 5-(2,4-dichlorobenzyloxy)tetrazolo[1,5-c] thieno[2,3-e]pyrimidine, which decreased the immobility time by 51.62% at a dose of 100 mg/kg. The results of open-field tests of this compound indicated that it had no significant effects on the locomotor activity compared with the control group at the doses assayed in the forced swimming tests test. This means that the antidepressant activity detected in the FST for the compound is not the result of central nervous system stimulant properties, and further confirms its antidepressant-like effect.