title: Substituted urea derivatives: a potent class of antidepressant agents.
abstract: A series of fourteen (14) N-nitrophenyl-N'-(alkyl/aryl)urea and symmetrical 1,3-disubstituted urea derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antidepressant activity in mice. Among them, N-(4-nitrophenyl)-N'-(1'-phenylethyl)urea (1), demonstrated profound antidepressant property as reflected by significant reduction in the immobility time (89.83%), whereas compounds 2-6 showed activity values between 36 to 59% which were also larger than the standard phenelzine. Compounds 7-9 were less effective in reducing the immobility period of mice 26.20 to 31.01%). This variable magnitude of antidepressant activity appears to be related to the position of the nitro group to the parent molecules 1, 2, and 8. Compound 1 with the nitro group at para position showed to be the most effective antidepressant. However, the activity declined, if the nitro is attached to ortho and meta positions.
authors.affiliation: PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi, Shahrah-e-Dr. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui, Karachi-75280, Pakistan. dr_shahnaz_perveen@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perveen
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Muhammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Ahsana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.forename: Khalid M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Voelter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D014508:Urea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014508:Urea