Biological activity of vanadium compounds

Abstract

Vanadium compounds are characterised by a broad spectrum of action in vivo and in vitro. Their insulin-mimetic activity is manifested in their ability to normalize changes observed in both clinical and experimental diabetes (i.e. hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia, lowered cell sensitivity to insulin) through the regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and the removal of secondary symptoms of this disease (as e.g. retinopathy, cardiomyopathy, nephropathy). Nevertheless, vanadium is considered to be a toxic element in both cationic and anionic form, although the latter type has more serious side effects. This is accounted for by the faster absorption of anionic forms, although the chemical structure, geometry, and the manner of synthesis of its derivatives also contributes to this elevated toxicity. Besides their antidiabetic properties, vanadium derivatives have also been observed to influence processes related to mitogenic cell responses (apoptosis, proliferation, neoplastic transformation). However, both anti-and pro-neoplastic properties of vanadium are reported.

Lipid peroxidation in the kidney of rats treated with V and/or Mg in drinking water

“…It should be pointed out that the oxidation state of vanadium is related to a variety of its biological effects that are manifested not only in the free radical processes, but also in the regulation of activity of many enzymes and in phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of proteins (Evangelou, 2002;Goc, 2006). Enhanced LPO in the kidney of rats after chronic exposure to vanadium administered in drinking water was also observed by Donaldson et al (1985), who stressed that the stimulation in LPO after vanadate intoxication may be predictive of renal dysfunction.…”

“…It has also been well documented in experiments on animals that the administration of vanadium, whose toxicity is correlated to its degree of oxidation and chemical form, may cause hematological and biochemical changes, morphological and functional lesions in internal organs (especially in liver and kidney) and nephrotoxicity as well as abnormalities in development and reproduction (Domingo, 1996;Zaporowska and Ścibior, 1998;Evangelou, 2002;Goc, 2006). Its 'biphasic' effect -essentiality at low concentrations and toxicity at high concentrations -is well known, too (Chatterjee and Bishayee 1998), as well as the fact that it may behave as an antioxidant or as a pro-oxidant, which depends on experimental conditions, the dose and form of its species and cell type (Matsubara et al, 1995;Badmaev et al, 1999;Aureliano and Crans 2009).…”

Methoxy VO–salen Stimulates Pancreatic β Cell Survival by Upregulation of eNOS and Downregulation of Apoptosis in STZ-induced Diabetic Rats

“…Furthermore, vanadium complexes with insulin-mimetic properties were proposed for use as insulin-mimetic agents in animal models of diabetes and cell culture studies [15]. Beside this, vanadium complexes also exhibit antitumor, antiinflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities [16,17].…”

Environmentally geochemical characteristics of vanadium in the topsoil in the Panzhihua mining area, Sichuan Province, China

“…As for man, acute vanadium poisoning will result in weakness, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, tinnitus, headache, dizziness, green discolourisation of the tongue, palpitations, transient coronary insufficiency, bradycardia with extra systoles, dermatitis, anaemia, leucopaenia, leukocyte granulation and lowering of cholesterol levels (Faulkner Hudson, 1964;Hunter, 1975). Yet despite the international interest in vanadium and the amount of research that is being conducted on it (Reviews: Niragu and Pirrone, 1998;WHO, 2001;Crans et al, 2004;Crans, 2005;Goc, 2006), very little work has been done on its environmentally geochemical behavior in the soil.…”