Synthesis and Antidepressant Activity of N-Substituted Imidazole-5-Carboxamides in Forced Swimming Test Model

Moclobemide is a selective and reversible monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor, which is used as an antidepressant. Three moclobemide analogues were synthesized by replacing moclobemide phenyl ring with substituted imidazoles. So, N-[(4-morpholinyl) ethyl)]-1-benzyl-2-(alkylthio)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxamides (7a-c) were synthesized and studied for the antidepressant activity using forced swimming test in mice. Analogues 7a-c were found to be more potent than moclobemide. Minimum effective doses for moclobemide and analogues 7a-c were found to be 20, 2.5, 1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg i.p. respectively.