Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of some substituted 1,2,4-thiadiazoles.

A series of new substituted 1,2,4-thiadiazoles were synthesized by appropriate route and screened for anticonvulsant, neurotoxic and sedative-hypnotic activity. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR spectroscopy, (13)C NMR and elemental (nitrogen and sulphur) analysis. After i.p. injection of the compounds to mice or rate at doses of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, body weights were examined in the maximal electroshock-induced seizures (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ)-induced seizure models after 0.5 and 4 h. Rotorod method and phenobarbitone-induced hypnosis potentiation study were employed to examine neurotoxicity and sedative-hypnotic activity, respectively. All the compounds except 4g showed protection against MES screen after 0.5 h. Compounds 3a-c, 4a-c were active at 100 mg/kg dose i.p., whereas remaining compounds showed activity at 300 mg/kg. All 14 compounds except 3g showed neurotoxicity at 100 and 300 mg/kg after 0.5 h. Compounds 3b and 4b showed NT after 4 h. Two compounds 3b and 4g showed significant (p<0.05) percentage increase in sleeping time i.e. 67% and 59%, respectively. It may be concluded that the synthesized compounds were potent against MES-induced seizures than ScPTZ induced and showed low potency as sedative-hypnotic agent which is advantageous.