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Background Antiepileptic drugs are commonly used in non-epileptic disorders. For example, phenytoin and levetiracetam demonstrate analgesic properties in rodent models of pain. In order to enhance their antinociceptive activity, structural features of phenytoin and levetiracetam, such as imidazolidine-2,4-dione and amide bond in alkyl chain, were combined in one molecule. Furthermore, in preliminary studies, methoxyphenylpiperazinpropyl derivatives of imidazolidine-2,4-dione acted as antinociceptive agents in several rodent models of acute pain. Methods The final compounds and the reference drugs – levetiracetam and phenytoin were evaluated in the hot plate test to assess their antinociceptive activity in this acute pain model. Furthermore, for the analgesic active compounds the impact on animals’ locomotor activity and motor performance were estimated and the affinity to serotonergic (5-HT 1A , 5-HT 7 ) and adrenergic (α 1 ) receptors was determined. Results Three of the tested compounds: 7 , 15 and 18 showed statistically significant antinociceptive properties at the dose of 30 mg/kg. Among them, compound 18 , 1-methyl-3-[1-(morpholin-4-yl)-1-oxobutan-2-yl]imidazolidine-2,4-dione, exhibited the most significant and long-lasting antinociceptive activity. Noteworthy, this activity was not associated with a negative effect on animals’ motor functions. Serotonergic or adrenergic neurotransmission is not involved in this antinociceptive effect. Conclusion Some amide derivatives of imidazolidine-2,4-diones possess antinociceptive properties in mice but further studies are needed to explain their mechanism of action and assess their toxicity.

Background we investigated the possible mechanisms involved in the interactions of venlafaxine (VFX), a selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, and morphine (MRF), an opioid receptor agonist, after acute and chronic VFX treatment in diabetic neuropathic pain model (DNPM). Methods The studies were performed on male rats. The changes in nociceptive thresholds were determined by using mechanical stimuli (the Randall–Selitto and the von Frey tests). Diabetes was induced by intramuscular administration of streptozotocin. In order to investigate the mechanism of interaction, animals were also pretreated with naloxone (NLX), a nonselective opioid antagonist, yohimbine (YOH), a nonselective α 2 -adrenergic antagonist, and p-chloroamphetamine (PCA), a neurotoxin that destroys serotonergic neurons. The μ-opioid receptors’ density was determined with the use of radioligand binding assay. Results VFX potentiated antinociceptive action of MRF after acute administration of VFX and this effect was decreased by pretreatment of NLX, YOH and PCA. On the contrary, VFX administered for 21 days prior to MRF significantly decreased the analgesic action of MRF; this effect was augmented only after YOH pretreatment. Also, 21-days administration of VFX caused decreasing tendency in the number of μ-opioid receptors in the brain stem. Conclusions The results of our study show that single administration of VFX potentiates antinociceptive action of morphine in DNPM. This effect is probably mediated by both, noradrenergic and serotonergic systems. On the other hand, 21-days administration of VFX significantly decreases analgesic action of MRF. Moreover, there is a possibility that VFX acts as an antagonist of N -methyl- d -aspartate receptors.

Background Over recent years, the 5-hydroxytryptamine 6 (5-HT 6 ) receptor has emerged as a promising molecular target which interacts with several central nervous system acting drugs. In animal models, both agonists and antagonists of this receptor exhibit equivalent potency and efficacy as potential antidepressants, anxiolytics and anti-obesity or anti-dementia drugs. EMD386088 (5- chloro-2-methyl-3-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-pyridinyl)-1 H -indole hydrochloride) has been described as a high affinity 5-HT 6 receptor ligand with a full agonist activity and with moderate affinity for 5-HT 3 sites. Methods We have extended these data by broadening its profile for other, not yet tested, monoaminergic, GABA A , opioid μ receptors and serotonin transporter (SERT) and we have conducted functional in vitro assays; i.e., measurement of cAMP by homogeneous TR-FRET immunoassay and HTRF method made by CEREP as well as aequorin-based calcium flux assay. Results In two in vitro models based on cAMPformation, maximal efficacy values for EMD386088 were 65 and 31%, for in house and CEREP experiments, respectively. In a model based on calcium response, the studied compound showed 46 % of maximal serotonin (5-HT) signal. EMD386088 antagonizes 5-HT response in increasing concentrations from 10 –9 to 10 –6 M. Conclusions The present in vitro findings confirm that EMD386088 is a selective 5-HT 6 receptor ligand with moderate affinity for 5-HT 3 sites only and it behaves as a potent partial agonist of 5-HT 6 receptor with varying levels of agonist intrinsic activity, depending on a method employed. In view of these results, caution is recommended in the interpretation of pharmacological in vivo studies with EMD386088.

The preliminary cytotoxic effect of 4-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-1-(piperidin-4-ylcarbonyl)-thiosemicarbazide hydrochloride (1)—a potent topoisomerase II inhibitor—was measured using a MTT assay. It was found that the compound decreased the number of viable cells in both estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 and estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-231breast cancer cells, with IC50 values of 146 ± 2 and 132 ± 2 μM, respectively. To clarify the molecular basis of the inhibitory action of 1, molecular docking studies were carried out. The results suggest that 1 targets the ATP binding pocket. Figure 4-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-1-(piperidin-4-ylcarbonyl)-thiosemicarbazide hydrochloride Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00894-012-1679-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ever since the recognition of strong pharmaceutical activities of triazoles and thiadiazoles, these scaffolds have been the subject of vigorous studies. One of the best strategies for synthesis of these azoles is dehydrocyclization of 1,4-disubstituted thiosemicarbazides, which leads to s-triazoles in alkaline media, whereas in strong acidic media 1,3,4-thiadiazoles are formed. However, the literature is riddled with contradictory communications regarding the nature of the products of such reactions under mild acidic conditions. As these compounds are not amenable to X-ray analysis, we have resorted to NMR and theoretical modelling to resolve this discrepancy. In this article, we present arguments indicating that dehydrocyclization of 4-benzoylthiosemicarbazides in glacial acetic acid leads to thiadiazole derivatives. These structural findings are augmented by studies of bioactivity of a few members of the studied class of compounds.

4-Benzoyl-1-(4-methyl-imidazol-5-yl)-carbonylthiosemicarbazide (1) was synthesized, and its antibacterial and type IIA topoisomerase (DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV) activity evaluated. (1) was found to have high therapeutic potential against opportunistic Gram-positive bacteria, and inhibitory activity against topoisomerase IV (IC(50)=90 μM) but not against DNA gyrase. An increase in activity against topoisomerase IV (IC(50)=14 μM) was observed when the imidazole moiety of (1) was replaced with the indole group in 4-benzoyl-1-(indol-2-yl)-carbonylthiosemicarbazide (2). However, (2) showed only weak antibacterial activity. Although the results of the bacterial type IIA topoisomerases inhibition study did not parallel antibacterial activities, our observations strongly imply that a 4-benzoylthiosemicarbazide scaffold can be developed into an efficient Gram-positive antibacterial targeting topoisomerase IV. The difference in activity against type IIA topoisomerases between (1) and (2) was further investigated by docking studies, which suggested that these compounds target the ATP binding pocket.

The NMDA receptor antagonist, CGP 37849-induced reduction in immobility time in the forced swim test in mice was not antagonized by pre-treatment with the AMPA receptor antagonist NBQX. This is the first demonstration of the antidepressant effect of the NMDA antagonist not being dependent on the AMPA transmission.