Synthesis and evaluation of pharmacological properties of some new xanthone derivatives with piperazine moiety.

A series of new xanthone derivatives with piperazine moiety [1-7] was synthesized and evaluated for their pharmacological properties. They were subject to binding assays for α1 and ß1 adrenergic as well as 5-HT1A, 5-HT6 and 5-HT7b serotoninergic receptors. Five of the tested compounds were also evaluated for their anticonvulsant properties. The compound 3a 3-methoxy-5-{[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methyl}-9H-xanthen-9-one hydrochloride exhibited significantly higher affinity for serotoninergic 5-HT1A receptors (Ki=24 nM) than other substances. In terms of anticonvulsant activity, 6-methoxy-2-{[4-(benzyl)piperazin-1-yl]methyl}-9H-xanthen-9-one (5) proved best properties. Its ED50 determined in maximal electroshock (MES) seizure assay was 105 mg/kg b.w. (rats, p.o.). Combining of xanthone with piperazine moiety resulted in obtaining of compounds with increased bioavailability after oral administration.

Ion channels as drug targets in central nervous system disorders.

Ion channel targeted drugs have always been related with either the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system, or the cardiovascular system. Within the CNS, basic indications of drugs are: sleep disorders, anxiety, epilepsy, pain, etc. However, traditional channel blockers have multiple adverse events, mainly due to low specificity of mechanism of action. Lately, novel ion channel subtypes have been discovered, which gives premises to drug discovery process led towards specific channel subtypes. An example is Na(+) channels, whose subtypes 1.3 and 1.7-1.9 are responsible for pain, and 1.1 and 1.2 - for epilepsy. Moreover, new drug candidates have been recognized. This review is focusing on ion channels subtypes, which play a significant role in current drug discovery and development process. The knowledge on channel subtypes has developed rapidly, giving new nomenclatures of ion channels. For example, Ca(2+)s channels are not any more divided to T, L, N, P/Q, and R, but they are described as Ca(v)1.1-Ca(v)3.3, with even newer nomenclature α1A-α1I and α1S. Moreover, new channels such as P2X1-P2X7, as well as TRPA1-TRPV1 have been discovered, giving premises for new types of analgesic drugs.

Synthesis, alpha-adrenoceptors affinity and alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonistic properties of some 1,4-substituted piperazine derivatives.

A series of different 1,4-substituted piperazine derivatives (1-11) was synthesized. It comprised 1-(substituted-phenoxyalkyl)-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine derivatives (1-5); 1,4-bis(substituted-phenoxyethyl)piperazine derivatives (6-8) and 1-(substituted-phenoxy)-3-(substituted-phenoxyalkylpiperazin-1-yl)propan-2-ol derivatives (9-11). All compounds were evaluated for affinity toward alpha 1- and alpha 2-receptors by radioligand binding assays on rat cerebral cortex using [3H]prazosin and [3H]clonidine as specific radioligand, respectively. Furthermore alpha 1-antagonistic properties were checked for most promising compounds (1-5 and 10) by means of inhibition of phenylephrine induced contraction in isolated rat aorta. Antagonistic potency stayed in agreement with radioligand binding results. The most active compounds (1-5) displaced [3H]prazosin from cortical binding sites in low nanomolar range (Ki = 2.1-13.1 nM). Compound 10 showed slightly lower affinity for alpha 1-adrenoceptor (Ki = 781 nM). Compounds 2-5 displayed the strongest antagonistic activity with pA2 values ranging from 8.441 to 8.807. Compound 1 gave a pA2 value of 7.868, while compound 10 showed the weakest antagonistic potency, giving a pA2 value of 6.374. 1-[3-(2-Chloro-6-methylphenoxy)propyl]-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine hydrochloride (5) showed the best alpha 1- affinity properties with a Ki(alpha 1) value of 2.1 nM and it was 61.05 fold more selective toward alpha 1 than alpha 2-receptors. The best properties showed 1-[3-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)propyl]-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine hydrochloride (4) with a Ki(alpha 1) value of 2.4 nM, a 142.13 fold better selectivity to alpha 1 - over alpha 2-adrenoceptors and the best antagonistic potency (pA2 = 8.807). It is worth to emphasized that all most promising compounds possessed an 1-(o-methoxyphenyl)piperazine moiety which probably plays an important role in the affinity to alpha-adrenoceptors.

Evaluation of anticonvulsants for possible use in neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is a kind of pain related with functional abnormality of neurons. Despite large progress in pharmacotherapy, neuropathic pain is still considered an unmet need. Nowadays, there are few drugs registered for this condition, such as pregabalin, gabapentin, duloxetine, carbamazepine, and lidocaine. Among them, pregabalin, gabapentin and carbamazepine are well known antiepileptic drugs. Among the group of new antiepileptic drugs, which are addressed to 1% of human world population suffering from seizures, it turned out that 30% of the seizures resistant to pharmacotherapy has not enough market to justify the costs of drug development. Therefore, it is already a phenomenon that researchers turn their projects toward a larger market, related with possible similar mechanism. Anticonvulsant mechanism of action is in the first place among primary indications for drugs revealing potential analgesic activity. Therefore, many drug candidates for epilepsy, still in preclinical stage, are being evaluated for activity in neuropathic pain. This review is focusing on antiepileptic drugs, which are evaluated for their analgesic activity in major tests related with neuropathic pain. Relation between structure, mechanism of action and result in tests such as the Chung model (spinal nerve ligation SNL), the Bennett model (chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve CCI) and other tests are considered. The first examples are carbamazepine, gabapentin, and lacosamide as drugs well established in epilepsy market as well as drug candidates such as valnoctamide, and other valproic acid derivatives, novel biphenyl pyrazole derivatives, etc. Moreover, clinical efficacy related with listed animal models has been discussed.