1,2,4-Thiadiazoles as promising multifunctional agents for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Detailed studies of properties of new 3-substituted 5-anilino-1,2,4-thiadiazoles containing different substituents at position 3 of the thiadiazole ring were carried out, in particular, their esterase profile and antioxidant properties. It was found that the presence in the molecule of 2-aminopropyl fragment determines an efficient and selective inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase as compared to acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase, with radical-scavenging activity being weak. The compounds containing a 2-aminopropenyl fragment possess a high radicalscavenging activity, weakly inhibit cholinesterases, and exhibit anticarboxylesterase activity. A wide spectrum of activity of 3-substituted 5-anilino-1,2,4-thiadiazoles as inhibitors of cholinesterases and highly efficient scavengers of free radicals gives a basis for the optimization of structure and development in this series of original agents for therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.