LAUSR

Objectives The in vitro antioxidant properties of some 2-(2-phenyl)-1H-benzo(d)imidazol-1-yl)-N'-(arylmethylene) acetohydrazide derivatives (1-12) were investigated in this study. Materials and Methods The in vitro antioxidant activity of compounds 1-12 was explored by determination of rat liver microsomal nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide phosphate dependent inhibition on lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and microsomal ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity. Results All synthesised compounds had LPO inhibitory activity (15-57%) except compound 6, which contains a thiophene ring. Almost all the compounds displayed slightly inhibitory activity (2-20%) on EROD. Conclusion The most active compound, 3 bearing a p-bromophenyl substituent at the second position of the benzimidazole ring, caused 57% inhibition of LPO level, while butylated hydroxytoluene showed 65% inhibition. None of the synthesised compounds had a marked inhibitory effect on EROD activity.