Synthesis And Antidepressant Activity Of N-(2-hydroxyethyl) Cinnamam Derivatives

In order to finding better compounds with antidepressant activity, a series of N-(2-hydroxyethyl) cinnamam derivatives (3a-3n) were synthesized using benzaidehyde as the starting materials to evaluate their antidepressant effects. Most of the compounds significantly reduced immobility times during the suspention test (TST) at a dose of 40 mg/kg indicative of their antidepressant activity. Among the compounds,3b, 3j,31 showed the best antidepressant activity, Which decreased the immobility time by 48.91%,36.61%,69.99% and 48.91%,76.35%,57.43% in FST and TST respectively at 40 mg/kg dose level (i.p). According to the results of the 5-HTP induced head-twitch test and yohimbine toxicity potentiation test, the noradrenergic system seems not to be involved in the antidepressant-like effect of compound 3b,3j,31...