# Design, synthesis and anticonvulsant evaluation of novel 2,4,5-trichlorobenzenesulfonate-based dihydrothiazoles supported by in vivo and in silico studies

**Authors:** Faiqa Noreen, Muhammad Iftikhar Shoukat, Imran Imran, Farhan Siddique, Sumaira Nadeem, Mostafa A. Ismail, Xianliang Zhao, Magdi E. A. Zaki, Sobhi M. Gomha, Zahid Shafiq

PMC · DOI: 10.1039/d6ra00305b · RSC Advances · 2026-03-03

## TL;DR

Researchers synthesized new compounds that show strong anticonvulsant effects in seizure models, suggesting potential for new epilepsy treatments.

## Contribution

A novel series of dihydrothiazoles with anticonvulsant activity was synthesized and validated using in vivo and in silico methods.

## Key findings

- Compound 3c provided complete protection in the 6 HZ corneal stimulation model.
- Compound 3c showed complete protection in the PTZ chemoconvulsant model.
- Compound 3c had a strong binding affinity of −9.7 kcal mol−1 in molecular docking.

## Abstract

This study describes the synthesis of a new series of 2,4,5 trichlorobenzenesulfonate structural class dihydrothiazoles and assesses the potential of the compounds as antiepileptic drugs using in vivo methods, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and DFT computational methods. Ten compounds 3(a–j) were synthesized and characterized, and their anti-seizure effects were evaluated on the standard seizure models. In vivo anticonvulsant activity was explored in the 6 HZ corneal stimulation model. Compound 3c showed complete protection, with return to normal behavior in less than 10 seconds post stimulation. The rest of the compounds exhibited 25% (3a), 50% (3d), 75% (3f), and 75% (3j) protection, respectively. In the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) chemoconvulsant model, compound 3c at 150 mg kg−1 showed complete protection from death and hind limb extension. None of the animals showed seizure activity for 30 minutes post-administration. In the in silico molecular docking, compound 3c showed the greatest anticonvulsant activity among the synthesized compounds. Compound 3c had a binding affinity of −9.7 kcal mol−1, while the co-crystallized reference ligand had −6.7 kcal mol−1 which indicates a direct correlation between binding score and experimental anticonvulsant activity. Based on both in vivo and in silico findings, compound 3c emerged as the most important candidate, demonstrating superior anti convulsant activity across multiple seizure models. These results underscore the capability of the newly synthesized 2, 4, 5-trichlorobenzenesulfonate based dihydrothiazoles as promising scaffolds for the development of new antiepileptic drugs.

A new series of 2,4,5-trichlorobenzenesulfonate-based dihydrothiazoles was synthesized and evaluated as anticonvulsant agents.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** pentylenetetrazole (PubChem CID 5917), compound 3a (PubChem CID 118509873), compound 3f (PubChem CID 138970219)
- **Diseases:** epilepsy (MONDO:0005027)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** Raf1 (Raf1 proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase) [NCBI Gene 110157] {aka 6430402F14Rik, Craf1, D830050J10Rik, Raf-1, c-Raf, cRaf}, Hdac6 (histone deacetylase 6) [NCBI Gene 15185] {aka Hd6, Hdac5, Sfc6, mHDA2}, Igf1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) [NCBI Gene 16000] {aka C730016P09Rik, Igf-1, Igf-I}, Esr1 (estrogen receptor 1 (alpha)) [NCBI Gene 13982] {aka ER, ER-alpha, ERa, ERalpha, ESR, Estr}, Ghrl (ghrelin) [NCBI Gene 58991] {aka 2210006E23Rik, Ghr, MTLRP, MTLRPAP, m46}, Brp1 (brain protein 1) [NCBI Gene 109667] {aka A1, Brp-1}, Gabrg2 (gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor, subunit gamma 2) [NCBI Gene 14406] {aka GABAA-R, Gabrg-2, gamma2}, Igf1r (insulin-like growth factor I receptor) [NCBI Gene 16001] {aka A330103N21Rik, CD221, D930020L01, IGF-1R, hyft}, Braf (B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase) [NCBI Gene 109880] {aka 9930012E13Rik, B-raf, Braf-2, Braf2, C230098H17, D6Ertd631e}, Npy (neuropeptide Y) [NCBI Gene 109648] {aka 0710005A05Rik}, Mapk14 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 14) [NCBI Gene 26416] {aka CSBP2, Crk1, Csbp1, Mxi2, PRKM14, PRKM15}, Abl1 (Abl proto-oncogene 1, non-receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 11350] {aka Abl, E430008G22Rik, c-Abl}, Rap1a (Rap1a member of RAS oncogene family) [NCBI Gene 109905] {aka G-22K, Krev-1, Rap1}, Parp1 (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase family, member 1) [NCBI Gene 11545] {aka 5830444G22Rik, ARTD1, Adprp, Adprt1, PARP, PPOL}, Egfr (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 13649] {aka 9030024J15Rik, Erbb, Errb1, Errp, Wa5, wa-2}, Bdkrb2 (bradykinin receptor, beta 2) [NCBI Gene 12062] {aka B(2), B2, B2R, BK-2, BK2, BK2R}
- **Diseases:** infection (MESH:D007239), dehydration (MESH:D003681), toxicity (MESH:D064420), Epilepsy (MESH:D004827), brain disorders (MESH:D001927), death (MESH:D003643), myoclonic jerk (MESH:D009207), myoclonic, (MESH:D004831), inflammation (MESH:D007249), corneal (MESH:D003316), muscle (MESH:D019042), neurological disorder (MESH:D009461), myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures (MESH:D012640)
- **Chemicals:** hydrogen peroxide (MESH:D006861), 2,4,5 trichlorobenzenesulfonate (-), 2H (MESH:D003903), lidocaine (MESH:D008012), PTZ (MESH:D010433), benzodiazepines (MESH:D001569), imine (MESH:D007097), Tween 80 (MESH:D011136), alcohol (MESH:D000438), H (MESH:D006859), diethyl ether (MESH:D004986), DMSO (MESH:D004121), Barbiturates (MESH:D001463), LEV (MESH:D000077287), calcium (MESH:D002118), sulfonate (MESH:D000476), nitrogen compound (MESH:D017672), TMS (MESH:C073196), xylazine (MESH:D014991), phenacyl bromide (MESH:C013190), N (MESH:D009584), thiosemicarbazone (MESH:D013882), C (MESH:D002244), 3H (MESH:D014316), O (MESH:D010100), GABA (MESH:D005680), glutamate (MESH:D018698), ethanol (MESH:D000431), 13C (MESH:C000615229), water (MESH:D014867), aryl sulfonate (MESH:D001190), iron (MESH:D007501), DZP (MESH:D003975), thiazole (MESH:D013844)
- **Species:** Felis catus (cat, species) [taxon 9685], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

48 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12956243/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12956243