Anticonvulsant-copper complexes

Copper complexes listed in Table 6.22 have been reported [324-327] to have anticonvulsant activity in the /rmol/kg dose range following subcutaneous or intraperitoneal administration to rodent models of grand mal or petit mal seizures, maximal electroshock- or pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures [328, 329]. Some of these compounds had a rapid onset of action, within 30 min following administration, and the anticonvulsant effect persisted for up to 8 h. Others had a delayed onset of action, approximately 4 h, with a prolonged effect lasting for up to 24 h. Most of these complexes were found to be more effective in the pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure model, but lipophilic complexes were found to be effective in both models of seizure. 

Whatever the pathological lesion causing epilepsy, it seems clear that studies of the anticonvulsant activities of copper complexes may provide a better approach to therapy of this disease. Also, a better understanding of altered essential metalloelement metabolism in epilepsy may provide a better understanding of the pathological lesion responsible for this disease. 

Evidence has been provided that the anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anticarcinogenic effects of Cu(II)(3,5-DIPS)2 are related to its Cu-Zn-SOD-mimetic activity [375-378, 510, 512-515]. Cu-Zn-SOD-mimetic activity may also, in time, be shown to, at least in part, account for the antiulcer, antimicrobial, and anticonvulsant effects of copper complexes. Acute and especially chronic diseases are being investigated worldwide with regard to the plausible role of superoxide in their etiologies. 

Radioprotectant studies of copper complexes with anticancer, anticargino-genic and antimutagenic activities as well as anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and anticonvulsant activities for use in protecting normal tissues of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy appear to be fully justified. 

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