The present invention encompasses methods of using a 5-phenyl-2-furan esters, amides and ketones and compositions thereof to prevent or limit neuronal death or degeneration in a human or lower animal. These methods comprise systemically administering to such human or other animal a safe and effective amount of a compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein (1) X is halo or nil; and Y is a substituent selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted or halogen-substituted methyl, halo, nitro, amino, and methoxy; and (2) R is R.sup.1 C(O)OH, R.sup.1 C(O)N(R.sup.3).sub.2, N(R.sup.3).sub.2, OR.sup.1 N(R.sup.3).sub.2, R.sup.1 N(R.sup.3).sub.2, N(R.sup.2)R.sup.1 N(R.sup.3).sub.2, or N(R.sup.2)N(R.sup.3).sub.2 ; where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; and each R.sup.3 is, independently, hydrogen or lower alkyl; or both R.sup.3 groups are connected to form a saturated 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms selected from oxygen and nitrogen, and said heterocycle is unsubstituted or substituted with lower alkyl or hydroxy-substituted lower alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
本发明涵盖了使用5-苯基-2-
呋喃酯、酰胺和酮及其组合物的方法,以预防或限制人类或较低动物中的神经
细胞死亡或退化。这些方法包括向这样的人类或其他动物系统地给予化合物的安全有效量,该化合物的结构如下:其中(1)X是卤素或零;Y是选择自未取代或卤素取代的甲基、卤素、硝基、
氨基和甲氧基的取代基;以及(2)R是R1C(O)OH、R1C(O)N(R3)2、N(R3)2、OR1N(R3)2、R1N(R3)2、N(R2)R1N(R3)2或N(R2)N(R3)2;其中R1是未取代或取代为C1-C3烷基的C1-C3烷基;R2是氢或较低烷基;每个R3独立地是氢或较低烷基;或者两个R3基连接形成含有1或2个来自氧和氮的杂原子的饱和的5-或6元杂环,该杂环未取代或取代为较低烷基或羟基取代的较低烷基;或其药学上可接受的盐。