Inhibits HDAC activity much more potently (IC50 = 13 µM) than valproic acid (IC50 = 398 µM); induces histone hyperacetylation in cerebellar granule cells significantly at 5 µM; induces the expression of Hsp70-1a and Hsp70-1b and protects cerebellar granule cells from glutamate-induced excitotoxicity.