Synthesis, Characterization, And Evaluation as Novel Anticonvulsant Agents of Withania Somnifera-Derived Semicarbazone Analogues

Abstract

Epilepsy remains a major neurological disorder, with nearly 30% of patients showing resistance to existing antiepileptic drugs. In the present study, bioactive constituents from WITHANIA SOMNIFERA leaves were isolated, characterised, and chemically modified to develop novel semicarbazone analogues with potential anticonvulsant activity. Withaferin-A was successfully isolated and confirmed using TLC and HPLC, showing high purity, and its structure was elucidated by UV, FT-IR, NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. A semicarbazone derivative was synthesized and structurally characterized using standard spectroscopic techniques. The anticonvulsant potential of the synthesized compound was evaluated using maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) seizure models, with phenytoin and carbamazepine as reference drugs. The compound demonstrated significant anticonvulsant activity in both models with minimal neurotoxicity in the rotarod test. These findings suggest that WITHANIA SOMNIFERA–derived semicarbazone analogues represent promising leads for the development of safer and more effective anticonvulsant agents.