Abstract

Seven series of various substituted aryl semicarbazones were synthesized and evaluated for anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) induced seizure threshold tests. A comprehensive structure-activity relationship was derived comparing the substituents on the aryl ring and in the carbimino terminal. Generally the order of activity was 4-F > 2-Br = 3-Br = 4-Cl > 4-CH3 > 4-Br > 3-Cl > 3- CH3 with respect to the primary aryl group. Most of the compounds exhibited activity both in the MES and scPTZ screens. The 4-fluorophenyl substituted semicarbazones (5a-5y) emerged as the most potent compounds exhibiting anticonvulsant activity in mouse intraperitoneal (i.p.) and rat per oral (p.o.) MES, scPTZ and psychomotor seizure (6 Hz) screens.

Keywords: anticonvulsant activity, Aryl semicarbazones, 4-fluorophenyl, maximal electroshock seizure