The novel nootropic compound DM232 (UNIFIRAM) ameliorates memory impairment in mice and rats

The favorable pharmacological profile exhibited by piracetam stimulated the synthesis of related compounds potentially endowed with a higher nootropic potency. The antiamnesic and procognitive activity of DM232 (unifiram), a new compound structurally related to piracetam, was investigated. Mouse passive avoidance and rat Morris water maze and Social learning tests were employed. DM232 (0.001–1 mg/kg i.p. – 0.01–0.1 1mg/kg p.o.) prevented amnesia induced by scopolamine (1.5 mg/kg i.p.), mecamylamine (20 mg/kg i.p.), baclofen (2 mg/kg i.p.), and clonidine (0.125 mg/kg i.p.). Furthermore, The antiamnesic effect of the investigated compound was comparable to that exerted by well-known nootropic drugs such as piracetam (30–100 mg/kg i.p.), aniracetam (100 mg/kg p.o.), rolipram (30 mg/kg p.o.), and nicotine (5 mg/kg i.p). DM232 (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) was also able to prevent amnesia induced by scopolamine (0.8 mg/kg i.p.) in the rat Morris watermaze test. In the rat social learning test, DM232 (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) injected in adults rats reduced the duration of active exploration of the familiar partner in the second session of the test. DM232, similarly to piracetam, reduced the duration of hypnosis induced by pentobarbital. At the highest effective doses, the investigated compound did not impair motor coordination (rota rod test), nor modified spontaneous (Animex). These results indicate DM232 (unifiram) as a novel cognition enhancer, strictly related to piracetam-like compounds, able to ameliorate memory impairment at doses about 1,000 times lower than the most active available nootropic compounds.