Chemical and pharmacological studies of anorectic drugs with phenylpiperazinyl structure.

Chemical and pharmacological properties of potent anorectic compounds with phenylpiperazinyl structure were studied. Among them, the three derivatives having the most interesting anorectic activity are product VI obtained by pharmacomodulation from amfepramone and the compounds IV and V, analogs of GABA. The derivative VI possesses an anorectic activity very similar to that of fenfluramine, namely: modification of feeding behaviour in treated rats, wasting away and decrease of adipose tissue. The two other compounds and more particularly compound V seem to be effective even when treatment is over. Perhaps this is in relation with metabolic effects modifying the regulation of feeding behaviour in the central nervous system. In fact, these compounds have substituents able to interfere with GABA systems.