Partial structures of the fungal toxin aflatrem, methyl-substituted 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-ones have anticonvulsant activity

4,7,7-Trimethyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one was found to be an effective anticonvulsant (ED50 = 131 mg/kg) against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice. Enantioselectively was observed in the actions of the (+)- and (−)-enantiomers as anticonvulsants and as displacers of [35S]-TPBS, a ligand for the picrotoxin site on GABAA receptors. The (−)-enantiomer was slightly more potent in both biological assays.