Psychopharmacological study with K 8409, a 1H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran 3-dialkylamino substituted derivative.

A 1H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran derivative (K 8409) has undergone pharmacological investigation for psychotropic activity. The results show potential antidepressant action quantitatively similar to that of imipramine and amitriptyline, but due rather to MAO inhibition than to imipramine-like activity; interestingly enough, anti-MAO activity was particularly selective for the serotonin-converting enzyme, both centrally and peripherally. The outcome of the other tests suggests that the incidence of untoward effects is likely to be limited.