Semicarbazone Analogs as Anticonvulsant Agents: A Review

Semicarbazones are synthesized by the condensation of semicarbazide and aldehyde/ketone. The literature survey revealed that semicarbazones had been emerged as compounds with diverse biological activities including anticonvulsant, antitubercular, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities. The anticonvulsant activity of semicarbazones is mainly attributed due to the presence of an aryl binding site with aryl/alkyl hydrophobic group, a hydrogen bonding domain and an electron donor group and they are suggested to act by inhibiting sodium ion (Na+) channel. Dimmock et al., reported an extensive series of semicarbazones and reported 4-(4-fluorophenoxy) benzaldehyde semicarbazone (C0102862, V102862) as lead molecule. In MES (oral) screening C0102862 showed protective index (PI > 315) more than carbamazepine (PI 101), phenytoin (PI > 21.6) and valproate (PI > 2.17). This review briefly describes the information available about semicarbazone analogs and their anticonvulsant activity.