Therapeutic Properties of Vanadium Complexes

Abstract

Vanadium is a hard, silver-grey transition metal found in at least 60 minerals and fossil fuel deposits. Its oxide and other vanadium salts are toxic to humans, but the toxic effects depend on the vanadium form, dose, exposure duration, and route of intoxication. Vanadium is used by some life forms as an active center in enzymes, such as the vanadium bromoperoxidase of ocean algae and nitrogenases of bacteria. The structure and biochemistry of vanadate resemble those of phosphate, hence vanadate can be regarded as a phosphate competitor in a variety of biochemical enzymes such as kinases and phosphatases. In this review, we describe the biochemical pathways regulated by vanadium compounds and their potential therapeutic benefits for a range of disorders including type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and microbial pathology.

Repurposing Therapeutic Drugs Complexed to Vanadium in Cancer

“…These compounds have been of interest in various fields, including chemistry, biology, and materials science. Due to their diverse biological activities, they have demonstrated a variety of potential applications in medicine, namely as antidiabetic, anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral preparations [40,[96][97][98]. Polyoxidometalates (POMs) have been referred to as promising anticancer agents.…”

“…Vanadium-based complexes may incorporate different ligands, ranging from chemical elements such as cobalt to plant pigments (flavonoids) [37,38], or synthetic drugs, enclosing defined pharmacological properties and indications [39]. Complexes of metal ions with free drugs may reduce the toxicity of the drugs and increase their lipophilicity, improving their transport across cell membranes [40]. In this review, the effects of several vanadium compounds and complexes with distinct chemical structures are described (Figure 1).…”

Biological Consequences of Vanadium Effects on Formation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Lipid Peroxidation

“…Despite somewhat controversial reports suggesting that vanadium may be an essential trace element for humans [ 165 , 166 ], pharmacological amounts of vanadium needed to observe efficacy may be 10 to 100 times the normal intake [ 167 ]. Under certain levels, some vanadium complexes/compounds have shown anticancer and/or antidiabetic activity in mammals [ 23 , 53 , 54 , 74 , 168 ], while higher levels can cause toxicity. Under some conditions, vanadium can act as a pro-oxidant molecule, which interacts with other oxidants and synergistically enhances oxidative stress and potentially lipid peroxidation (LPO) [ 11 ].…”

Emerging Trends in Metal‐based Anticancer Agents: Drug Design to Clinical Trials and their Mechanism of Action

“…Indeed, by the turn of the twentieth century, vanadium was being utilized to treat anemia, tuberculosis (TB), diabetes, cancer, and parasitic disorders. [116,117] In comparison to several other metal compounds proposed as potential cancer therapeutics, vanadium has been found to exhibit a chemo preventive rather than carcinogenic effect in numerous chemically created tumor models. Its chemo preventive benefits are assumed to depend on a number of factors, such as (i) decreased formation of reactive species generated from carcinogens, (ii) altering antioxidant potential, and (iii) actiivation of both phase I and phase II detoxification processes.…”

“…These properties, when combined with the fact that vanadium has low toxicity, suggest a number of possibilities for using vanadium complexes as medical treatments. Indeed, by the turn of the twentieth century, vanadium was being utilized to treat anemia, tuberculosis (TB), diabetes, cancer, and parasitic disorders [116,117] …”