6.1.2. Aqueous V(III) Chemistry 877 6.1.3. Oxidation State of Vanadium in Tunicates 878 6.1.4. Uptake of Vanadate into Tunicates 879 6.1.5. Vanadium Binding Proteins: Vanabins 879 6.1.6. Model Complexes and Their Chemistry 880 6.1.7. Catechol-Based Model Chemistry 880 6.1.8. Vanadium Sulfate Complexes 881 6.2. Fan Worm Pseudopotamilla occelata 883 7. Vanadium Nitrogenase 883 7.1. Nitrogenases 883 7.2. Biochemistry of Nitrogenase 884 7.3. Clusters in Nitrogenase and Model Systems: Structure and Reactivity 885

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The chemistry and biochemistry of vanadium and the biological activities exerted by vanadium compounds.

OBJECTIVE —To conduct a systematic review of the published literature on the efficacy and safety of herbal therapies and vitamin/mineral supplements for glucose control in patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —We conducted an electronic literature search of MEDLINE, OLDMEDLINE, Cochrane Library Database, and HealthSTAR, from database inception to May 2002, in addition to performing hand searches and consulting with experts in the field. Available clinical studies published in the English language that used human participants and examined glycemic control were included. Data were extracted in a standardized manner, and two independent investigators assessed methodological quality of randomized controlled trials using the Jadad scale. RESULTS —A total of 108 trials examining 36 herbs (single or in combination) and 9 vitamin/mineral supplements, involving 4,565 patients with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. There were 58 controlled clinical trials involving individuals with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (42 randomized and 16 nonrandomized trials). Most studies involved patients with type 2 diabetes. Heterogeneity and the small number of studies per supplement precluded formal meta-analyses. Of these 58 trials, the direction of the evidence for improved glucose control was positive in 76% (44 of 58). Very few adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS —There is still insufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions about the efficacy of individual herbs and supplements for diabetes; however, they appear to be generally safe. The available data suggest that several supplements may warrant further study. The best evidence for efficacy from adequately designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is available for Coccinia indica and American ginseng. Chromium has been the most widely studied supplement. Other supplements with positive preliminary results include Gymnema sylvestre , Aloe vera , vanadium, Momordica charantia , and nopal.

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Systematic Review of Herbs and Dietary Supplements for Glycemic Control in Diabetes

Vanadium compounds exert preventive effects against chemical carcinogenesis on animals, by modifying, mainly, various xenobiotic enzymes, inhibiting, thus, carcinogen-derived active metabolites. Studies on various cell lines reveal that vanadium exerts its antitumor effects through inhibition of cellular tyrosine phosphatases and/or activation of tyrosine phosphorylases. Both effects activate signal transduction pathways leading either to apoptosis and/or to activation of tumor suppressor genes. Furthermore, vanadium compounds may induce cell-cycle arrest and/or cytotoxic effects through DNA cleavage and fragmentation and plasma membrane lipoperoxidation. Reactive oxygen species generated by Fenton-like reactions and/or during the intracellular reduction of V(V) to V(IV) by, mainly, NADPH, participate to the majority of the vanadium-induced intracellular events. Vanadium may also exert inhibitory effects on cancer cell metastatic potential through modulation of cellular adhesive molecules, and reverse antineoplastic drug resistance. It also possesses low toxicity that, in combination with the synthesis of new, more potent and better tolerated complexes, may establish vanadium as an effective non-platinum, metal antitumor agent.

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Vanadium in cancer treatment.

Vanadium in diabetes: 100 years from Phase 0 to Phase I.

An increasing number of potential applications for polyoxometalates in human medicine have been reported in the literature. These inorganic complexes are composed of early transition metals (mainly molybdenum, tungsten and vanadium) and oxygen. The present review gives an introduction into the chemistry of these compounds, and an overview of the principal studies of their biological and biochemical effects and their therapeutic potential. The reported antitumoral and antibiotic properties of molybdates and tungstates in vitro and in vivo are compiled and discussed, as are their influences on the blood glucose level in diabetic animals. Aspects of antiviral activities and cell penetration are treated.

Polyoxometalates: introduction to a class of inorganic compounds and their biomedical applications.

Historic perspective and recent developments on the insulin-like actions of vanadium; toward developing vanadium-based drugs for diabetes

Insulin-like effects of vanadium: basic and clinical implications.

In this study we designed, prepared, and analyzed a water-soluble, long-acting insulin derivative whose protracted action in vivo is based on a new principle rather than on slower absorption rates of suspended insulin formulations. To this end, we have prepared (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-SO(3)H)(3)-insulin ((FMS)(3)-insulin), a derivative having three 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-SO(3)H (FMS) moieties covalently linked to the three amino side chains of insulin. (FMS)(3)-insulin is soluble in aqueous buffers at neutral pH, at a concentration range of 0.15-0.60 mM, and has about 1% of both the biological potency and the receptor-binding affinity of the native hormone. Upon incubation at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C, it undergoes a slow hydrolysis with linear regeneration of insulin possessing full biological potency. A single subcutaneous administration of (FMS)(3)-insulin to streptozocin-treated rats lowered circulating glucose levels for a prolonged period (t(1/2) = 30 h). Similarly, intraperitoneal administration of (FMS)(3)-insulin to healthy rats had a prolonged glucose-lowering effect. In this experimental system, recovery from hypoglycemia proceeded with a t(1/2) value of 14 +/- 1 h, as compared with t(1/2) = 8.0 +/- 1 h for native insulin and t(1/2) = 10.0 +/- 1 h for NPH-insulin. (FMS)(3)-insulin is more resistant to proteolysis and appears to be nonimmunogenic. On the whole, (FMS)(3)(-)insulin represents a prototype version of a water-soluble, long-acting preparation of insulin. It is nearly inactive at the time of administration, and therefore can be administered, at high dose, with no concern for hypoglycemia. Because of its decreased receptor-binding affinity, (FMS)(3)-insulin evades receptor-mediated endocytosis and degradation and, hence, persists for a long period in the circulation. The insulin constituent of the (FMS)(3)-insulin conjugate undergoes a slow, spontaneous activation in the circulatory system, manifesting a prolonged glucose-lowering action in vivo. According to the data presented here, (FMS)(3)-insulin represents a typical prodrug: a compound which by itself shows only marginal activity but over time it is chemically hydrolyzed to the fully active hormone.

A novel approach for a water-soluble long-acting insulin prodrug: design, preparation, and analysis of [(2-sulfo)-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl](3)-insulin.

l-Glutamic Acid γ-Monohydroxamate A POTENTIATOR OF VANADIUM-EVOKED GLUCOSE METABOLISM IN VITRO AND IN VIVO

Several ligands, when complexed with vanadium, potentiate its insulinomimetic activity both in vivo and in vitro. We have recently found that l-Glu-γ-monohydroxamate (HXM) andl-Asp(β)HXM were especially potent in this regard. In the present study, we used vanadium-enriched adipose cells and cell-free experimental systems to determine the features ofl-Glu(γ)HXM and l-Asp(β)HXM that turn these ligands into optimal-synergizing vanadium chelators. We found thatl-Glu(γ)HXM and l-Asp(β)(HXM) possess the following characteristics: 1) They associate with vanadium(+5) at pH 7.2 within a narrow range of an apparent formation constant of 1.3 to 1.9 × 102 M−1; 2) they have nearly the same binding affinity for the vanadyl(+4) cation and the vanadate(+5) anion at physiological pH values; and 3) they form intense ultraviolet absorbing complexes upon associating with vanadium(+4) at 1 and 3 M stoichiometry, respectively, at pH 3.0. Vanadium ligands lacking any of these three defined criteria synergize less effectively with vanadium to activate glucose metabolism.

Itzhak Goldwaser

Papers

Historic perspective and recent developments on the insulin-like actions of vanadium; toward developing vanadium-based drugs for diabetes

Insulin-like effects of vanadium: basic and clinical implications.

A novel approach for a water-soluble long-acting insulin prodrug: design, preparation, and analysis of [(2-sulfo)-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl](3)-insulin.

l-Glutamic Acid γ-Monohydroxamate A POTENTIATOR OF VANADIUM-EVOKED GLUCOSE METABOLISM IN VITRO AND IN VIVO

Organic vanadium chelators potentiate vanadium-evoked glucose metabolism in vitro and in vivo: establishing criteria for optimal chelators.