FLAVONOID AND BIFLAVONOID DERIVATIVES, THEIR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS, THEIR ANXIOLYTIC ACTIVITY

摘要

Certain flavonoids, notably derivatives of flavone, chrysin and apigenin together with dimers thereof such as amentoflavone, have been found to possess anxiolytic properties (i.e. anxiety reducing properties) without exhibiting a sedative effect. The compounds are defined by general formula (I), wherein R?1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R8¿ are independently selected from H, OH, R, NO¿2?, halo, OR, NH2, NHR, NR2, COOR, COOH, CN or a sugar group; R?6, and R7¿ are both H, or R?6 and R7¿ together form a single bond; R is C¿1-6? alkyl or alkenyl; or the administration of an effective non-toxic amount of a biflavonoid which is a dimer of a compound of general formula (I). Novel compounds and pharmaceutical formulations are also described.