Anti-epileptogenic agents

A method for inhibiting epileptogenesis, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound represented by the formula:

• R9a, R9b, R10a, R10b are each independently hydrogen, an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, amino, hydroxy, thiol, alkylthiol, nitro, cyano, halogen, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, or aminocarbonyl group, or one of R9a and R9b and one of R10a and R10b are both taken together and form a double bond;
• or
• R9a and R9b, together with the two-carbon unit to which they are attached, are joined to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring having from 4 to 8 members in the ring;
• R10a and R10b, together with the two-carbon unit to which they are attached, are joined to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring having from 4 to 8 members in the ring;
• or one of R9a and R9b is joined with one of R10a and R10b, together with the two-carbon unit to which they are attached, to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring having from 4 to 8 members in the ring;
• R11 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or aryloxycarbonyl;
• or one of R10b and R10b is joined with R11, together with the carbon atom and nitrogen atom to which they are respectively attached, to form a heterocyclic ring having from 4 to 8 members in the ring;
• and
• R12 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl and a carbohydrate;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
• such that epileptogenesis is inhibited.