Discovery of Benzofuran Derivatives that Collaborate with Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) to Promote Neuroprotection

A series of benzofuran
derivatives with neuroprotective activity
in collaboration with IGF-1 was discovered using a newly developed
cell-based assay involving primary neural cells prepared from rat
hippocampal and cerebral cortical tissues. A structure–activity
relationship study identified compound 8 as exhibiting
potent activity and brain penetrability. An in vitro pharmacological
study demonstrated that although IGF-1 and 8 individually
exhibited the neuroprotective effect, the latter acted in collaboration
with IGF-1 to enhance neuroprotective activity.