Insulin mimetic effects of macrocyclic binuclear oxovanadium complexes on streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes in rats

Aim: The vanadium complexes so far tested for their insulin mimetic effects are either mono- or binuclear and contain only acyclic ligands. The leaching or hydrolysis of vanadyl ions from these complexes is much easier, and hence they elicit side effects. In the present study, a new binuclear macrocyclic oxovanadium complex was synthesized, and its efficacy was studied on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats over a period of 30 days. Methods: The insulin mimetic effect of the complex was tested on the blood sugar level in the STZ-diabetic rats and on the activities of the carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes present in the liver. Results: Administration of vanadium complex to STZ-induced diabetic rats decreased blood glucose levels from hyperglycaemic to normoglycaemic when compared to diabetic rats. The activity of carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes such as hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glycogen synthase and glycogen content were increased to near normal in vanadium complex-administered diabetic rats. The biochemical studies such as assay of blood urea and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases revealed that the complex is not toxic to the system. Conclusion: The nontoxic nature of this complex may be due to the presence of the vanadyl ions in an intact macrocyclic form. Further, the vanadyl ions present in the macrocyclic binuclear oxovanadium complex are very close to each other, and this may enhance the insulin mimetic activity by synergic effect.