Comparative analysis of the anxiolytic effects of 3-hydroxypyridine and succinic acid derivatives.

Threefold administration of 3-hydroxypyridine derivatives emoxipine and mexidol in optimal doses corresponding to the therapeutic dose range for humans produced an anxiolytic effect and stimulated risk behavior in the elevated plus maze test in rats. These effects were most pronounced after injection of 3-hydroxypyridine derivative emoxipine. Combination of 3-hydroxypyridine cation and succinate anion in the mexidol structure led to attenuation of the anxiolytic effect and less pronounced stimulation of the risk behavior. By the anxiolytic effect and induction of risk behavior, emoxipine and mexidol were close to the reference substance amitriptyline. Reamberin, a succinic acid derivative, had no pronounced tranquilizing properties, but risk behavior induction was similar to that produced by mexidol. In contrast to other test agents, the reference substance α-lipoic acid produced anxiogenic effects and suppressed risk behavior. The obtained results suggest that Russian-made 3-hydroxypyridine derivatives emoxipine and mexidol are promising preparations for the treatment of anxiety disorders.