Antitubercular and CNS activities of some 2-aryl-3-[N-(2/3/4-benzimidazol-2-yl)phenyl]iminomethylenyl indoles.

The title 2-aryl-3-[N-(2/3/4-benzimidazol 2yl)phenyl]iminomethylenyl indoles were synthesised by condensing 2-aryl-indol-3-aldehydes with 2-(2/3/4-aminophenyl)benzimidazoles in isopropanol and characterised by elemental and spectral (IR, PMR) studies. Compounds were screened in vivo for toxicity and gross CNS effects on albino mice and in vitro for antitubercular activity against human tuberculosis bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, H37RV. The tested compounds were nontoxic and CNS depressant. Some of them have been found to possess significant antitubercular activity, comparable with streptomycin.