Anticonvulsant and sedative-hypnotic activities of N-substituted isatin semicarbazones

A series of N-methyl/acetyl, 5-(un)-substituted isatin-3-semicarbazones were screened for anticonvulsant and sedative-hypnotic activities. The results revealed that protection was obtained in all the screens i.e., MES, scPTZ, and scSTY. Compounds 2, 4, 6, 10 but not 1 and 3 showed low neurotoxicity when compared to clinically used drugs. Compounds 5, 7, 8 and 9 were completely non-toxic. Compound 6 showed good activity in the rat oral MES screen. Among all the compounds, 3 and 6 emerged as the most active compounds as indicated by the protection they exhibit in MES, scSTY, and scPTZ screens. All the compounds showed significant sedative-hypnotic activity.