Synthesis and choleretic activity of 3-[2-(3-R', 4-R'', 5-R'''-benzyl)-5-R-benzimidazol-1-yl]-butanoic acids

On the ground of the evidentiated choleretic activity of 3-[2-benzylbenzimidazol-1-yl]butanoic acid, 28 new acids were prepared in order to evaluate the influence of suitable substitutions in either C5 of heteroring or C3', C4', C5' of benzyl group in position 2 on the choleretic activity. Pharmacological results after i.v. administration of 0.5 mmol/Kg in rats confirmed a general high choleretic activity that in eleven cases showed during the first 4 hours an increase of bile volume higher than 80%, that is superior to that produced by dehydrocholic acid. Only in a few cases the bile volume increase was less than 37% of basal value.