Pipequaline is a partial agonist of central benzodiazepine receptors (Ki = 78 nM in a radioligand binding assay). In mice, pipequaline enhances the effects of diazepam , further reducing foot shock-induced fighting behavior and the number of maximal electroshock-induced seizures and potentiating the muscle relaxant and hypnotic effects. Pipequaline also increases drinking in the Vogel punished drinking task indicating anxiolytic-like activity that can be reversed by the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil .
