Potent dual anti-HIV and spermicidal activities of novel oxovanadium(V) complexes with thiourea non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

Triazole based Schiff bases and their Oxovanadium(IV) complexes: Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial assay, and computational assessments

The synthesis and characterization of two new Schiff base ligands containing 1,2,4-triazole moieties and their oxovanadium(IV) complexes have been reported. The ligands and their complexes were studied by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), conductivity measurement, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and elemental analyses. The molar conductance of oxovanadium(IV) complexes were found to be relatively low, depicting their non-electrolytic nature. The XRD patterns reveal the size of particles to be 47.53 nm and 26.28 nm for the two complexes in the monoclinic crystal system. The molecular structures, geometrical parameters, chemical reactivity, stability, and frontier molecular orbital pictures were determined by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The theoretical vibrational frequencies and EPR g-factors (1.98) were found to correlate well with the experimental values. A distorted square pyramidal geometry with C₂ symmetry of the complexes has been proposed from experimental and theoretical results in a synergistic manner. The antimicrobial sensitivity of the ligands and their metal complexes assayed in vitro against four bacterial pathogens viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella Typhi showed that the oxovanadium(IV) complexes are slightly stronger antibacterial agents than their corresponding Schiff base precursors. The binding affinities obtained from the molecular docking calculations with the receptor proteins of bacterial strains (2EUG, 3UWZ, 4GVF, and 4JVD) showed that the Schiff bases and their oxovanadium(IV) complexes have considerable capacity inferring activeness for effective inhibition. The molecular dynamics simulation of a protein-ligand (4JVD-HL₂) complex with the best binding affinity of -12.8 kcal/mol for 100 ns showed acceptable stability of the docked pose and binding free energy of -15.17 ± 2.29 kcal/mol from molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) calculations indicated spontaneity of the reaction. The outcome of the research shows the complementary role of computational methods in material characterization and provides an interesting avenue to pursue for exploring new triazole based Schiff's bases and its vanadium compounds for better properties.

Therapeutic Properties of Vanadium Complexes

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.

Beneficial effects of Salvia officinalis essential oil on vanadium-induced testicular injury, DNA damage and histological alterations in Wistar rats

Vanadium has been shown to catalyze the generation of reactive oxygen species. Since free radical production and lipid peroxidation are potentially important mediators in testicular physiology and pathophysiology, the present study was conducted to elucidate vanadium-induced oxidative damage in rat testis and the ameliorative role of Salvia officinalis essential oil (SEO) against the adverse effects of this heavy metal. Adult male Wistar rats were treated daily during 10 days either with ammonium metavanadate (5 mg/kg bw, intraperitoneally), SEO (15 mg/kg bw, orally) or their combination. A group of rats receiving daily a saline solution served as a negative control. Vanadium treatment induced a significant decrease in body and reproductive organ weights, serum testosterone level and sperm number and motility. An increase in lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation as well as a marked inhibition in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the testes and seminal vesicles indicated the occurrence of oxidative stress after vanadium toxicity. Histopathological changes in testis and seminal vesicles were also observed following vanadium administration. However, co-administration of SEO to vanadium-treated rats resulted in an appreciable improvement of these parameters, emphasizing the therapeutic effects of SEO. It can be suggested that SEO mitigates vanadium-induced reproductive damage due to its antioxidant capacity. Thus, we can hypothesize that SEO supplementation could protect against vanadium poisoning.

Molecular Dynamics and Proton Hyperpolarization via Synthetic and Crude Oil Porphyrin Complexes in Solid and Solution States

The use of vanadyl porphyrins either in synthetic compounds or naturally occurring in asphaltenes is investigated as a source of proton hyperpolarization via dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. The features of dynamics and location of the vanadyl VO²⁺ complex in aggregates within the oil asphaltene molecules are studied by means of DNP, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and NMR field cycling relaxometry. Both the solid effect and Overhauser DNP were observed for the asphaltene solution in benzene, as well as in the solution and solid states for synthetic compounds. By comparison with a solution of synthetic vanadyl porphyrins, it is shown that vanadyl porphyrins in asphaltene aggregates are localized outside of the interface of the asphaltene aggregates and more exposed to the maltene molecules than "free" carbon-centered radicals associated with the core of asphaltene molecules. The perceptible contribution of scalar interaction is observed in solutions for both synthetic and asphaltene vanadyl porphyrins.

Therapeutic potential of vanadium complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline ligands, quo vadis? Fate of complexes in cell media and cancer cells

V^IVO-complexes formulated as [V^IVO(OSO₃)(phen)₂] (1) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), [V^IVO(OSO₃)(Me₂phen)₂] (2) (Me₂phen = 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) and [V^IVO(OSO₃)(amphen)₂] (3) (amphen = 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline) were prepared and stability in cell incubation media evaluated. Their cytotoxicity was determined against the A2780 (ovarian), MCF7 (breast) and PC3 (prostate) human cancer cells at different incubation times. While at 3 and 24 h the cytotoxicity differs for complexes and corresponding free ligands, at 72 h incubation all compounds are equally active presenting low IC₅₀ values. Upon incubation of A2780 cells with 1-3, cellular distribution of vanadium in cytosol, membranes, nucleus and cytoskeleton, indicate that the uptake of V is low, particularly for 1, and that the uptake pattern depends on the ligand. Nuclear microscopic techniques are used for imaging and elemental quantification in whole PC3 cells incubated with 1. Once complexes are added to cell culture media, they decompose, and with time most V^IV oxidizes to V^V-species. Modeling of speciation when [V^IVO(OSO₃)(phen)₂] (1) is added to cell media is presented. At lower concentrations of 1, V^IVO- and phen-containing species are mainly bound to bovine serum albumin, while at higher concentrations [V^IVO(phen)_n]²⁺-complexes become relevant, being predicted that the species taken up and mechanisms of action operating depend on the total concentration of complex. This study emphasizes that for these V^IVO-systems, and probably for many others involving oxidovanadium or other labile metal complexes, it is not possible to identify active species or propose mechanisms of cytotoxic action without evaluating speciation occurring in cell media.

Vaginal Administration of Contraceptives

While contraceptive drugs have enabled many people to decide when they want to have a baby, more than 100 million unintended pregnancies each year in the world may indicate the contraceptive requirement of many people has not been well addressed yet. The vagina is a well-established and practical route for the delivery of various pharmacological molecules, including contraceptives. This review aims to present an overview of different contraceptive methods focusing on the vaginal route of delivery for contraceptives, including current developments, discussing the potentials and limitations of the modern methods, designs, and how well each method performs for delivering the contraceptives and preventing pregnancy.

What is holding back the development of antiviral metallodrugs? A literature overview and implications for SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics and future viral outbreaks

In light of the Covid-19 outbreak, this review brings together historical and current literature efforts towards the development of antiviral metallodrugs. Classical compounds such as CTC-96 and auranofin are discussed in depth, as pillars for future metallodrug development. From the recent literature, both cell-based results and biophysical assays against potential viral biomolecule targets are summarized here. The comprehension of the biomolecular targets and their interactions with coordination compounds are emphasized as fundamental strategies that will foment further development of metal-based antivirals. We also discuss other possible and unexplored methods for unveiling metallodrug interactions with biomolecules related to viral replication and highlight the specific challenges involved in the development of antiviral metallodrugs.

New Antimicrobial Strategies Based on Metal Complexes

Traditional organic antimicrobials mainly act on specific biochemical processes such as replication, transcription and translation. However, the emergence and wide spread of microbial resistance is a growing threat for human beings. Therefore, it is highly necessary to design strategies for the development of new drugs in order to target multiple cellular processes that should improve their efficiency against several microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses or fungi. The present review is focused on recent advances and findings of new antimicrobial strategies based on metal complexes. Recent studies indicate that some metal ions cause different types of damages to microbial cells as a result of membrane degradation, protein dysfunction and oxidative stress. These unique modes of action, combined with the wide range of three-dimensional geometries that metal complexes can adopt, make them suitable for the development of new antimicrobial drugs.

Oxovanadium(IV) and Nickel(II) complexes obtained from 2,2'-dihydroxybenzophenone-S-methyl-thiosemicarbazone: Synthesis, characterization, electrochemistry, and antioxidant capability

2,2'-Dihydroxybenzophenone-S-methyl-thiosemicarbazone and 3-methoxy-salicylaldehyde were reacted in the presence of oxovanadium(IV) or nickel(II) ions to yield the N2O2-type-chelate complex. The synthesized complexes were characterized by employing elemental analysis, electronic and infrared spectra, 1H NMR spectra, magnetic measurements, and thermogravimetric analyses. The expected structures of oxovanadium(IV) and nickel(II) complexes were confirmed by using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. The presence of π-π stacked dimeric structures provided stronger crystalline formations. The optimized geometries and vibrational frequencies of the compounds were obtained using the DFT/ωB97XD method with the 6-31G (d,p) basis set and compared with the experimental data. The electrochemical characterization of the oxovanadium(IV) and nickel(II) complexes were carried out by using the cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. The oxovanadium(IV) complex gives a ligand-centered oxidation and a metal-centered one electron reduction and oxidation peaks corresponding to the VIV/IIIO and VIV/VO, respectively. The nickel(II) complex gives a ligand-centered oxidation and metal-centered (NiII/I) reduction peaks in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution. The redox potentials were calculated in terms of Gibbs free energy change of the redox reaction at the theory level of M06-L/LANL2DZ/PCM. In addition, the energy gap, HOMO and LUMO distributions were calculated. The total antioxidant capacities of the compounds were determined by using cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) method, in which the oxovanadium(IV) complex was found to be powerful as an antioxidant agent.

Vanadium: History, chemistry, interactions with α-amino acids and potential therapeutic applications

In the last 30 years, since the discovery that vanadium is a cofactor found in certain enzymes of tunicates and possibly in mammals, different vanadium-based drugs have been developed targeting to treat different pathologies. So far, the in vitro studies of the insulin mimetic, antitumor and antiparasitic activity of certain compounds of vanadium have resulted in a great boom of its inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry. Chemical speciation studies of vanadium with amino acids under controlled conditions or, even in blood plasma, are essential for the understanding of the biotransformation of e.g. vanadium antidiabetic complexes at the physiological level, providing clues of their mechanism of action. The present article carries out a bibliographical research emphaticizing the chemical speciation of the vanadium with different amino acids and reviewing also some other important aspects such as its chemistry and therapeutical applications of several vanadium complexes.

Submicron Matrices Embedded in a Polymeric Caplet for Extended Intravaginal Delivery of Zidovudine

In this study, an intravaginal delivery system able to deliver an anti-HIV-1 agent for the purpose of potentially reducing HIV-1 transmission acting over an extended duration was successfully formulated. This delivery system was a composite polymeric caplet comprising zidovudine-loaded polyethylene glycol enclatherated pectin-mucin submicron matrices embedded within a poly (D,L-lactide), magnesium stearate, Kollidon® SR, and Carbopol® 974P NF-based polymeric caplet matrix. A three-factor and three-level Box-Behnken statistical design was utilized to optimize the polymeric caplet. The optimized directly compressed composite polymeric caplet hardness was 22.1 ± 0.3 N and the matrix resilience was 62.4 ± 0.6%. The swelling- and diffusion-controlled fractional zidovudine (AZT) release from the optimized caplet was 0.74 ± 0.01 in simulated vaginal fluid (SVF), which increased to 0.81 ± 0.21 in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) simulating seminal fluid, over 30 days. Caplet matrix swelling was directly related to the percentage Carbopol 974P NF composition. An intravaginal system for AZT delivery was tested in the pig model over 28 days. X-ray analysis depicted delivery system swelling with matrix contrast fading over time as vaginal fluid permeated the matrix core. Plasma, vaginal fluid swab eluates, and tissue AZT concentrations were measured by gradient ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-tandem photodiode array detection. Vaginal tissue and vaginal fluid swab eluate AZT concentrations remained above effective levels over 28 days and were higher than plasma AZT concentrations, availing a system with reduced systemic toxicity and more effective inhibition of viral replication at the site of entry.

A Study of the Potential of the Pig as a Model for the Vaginal Irritancy of Benzalkonium Chloride in Comparison to the Nonirritant Microbicide PHI-443 and the Spermicide Vanadocene Dithiocarbamate

A porcine model was established to test the mucosal toxicity potential of a thiophene thiourea (PHI-443)-based anti-HIV microbicide and a vanadocene-based spermicide, vanadocene dithiocarbamate (VDDTC) in comparison to benzalkonium chloride (BZK). Nine domestic pigs (Duroc) in nonestrus stage received a single intravaginal application of 2% BZK, 2% PHI-443, or 0.1% VDDTC-containing gel. At various times after gel application, cell differentials and levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, IFN- γ, and TNF- α) in cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) fluid were monitored by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Eight pigs were exposed intravaginally to a gel with and without BZK or VDDTC for 4 consecutive days and vaginal tissues were scored histologically for inflammation using a new scoring system. Only CVL fluid from pigs exposed to BZK showed a significant increase of IL-1 β, IL-8, and also IL-18 production when compared to the controls, PHI-443 or VDDTC-treated groups. Maximum levels of BZK-induced IL-1 β (100-fold), IL-8 (2,500-fold), IL-18 (80-fold), and IFN- γ(10-fold) were found at 24 hours. In the in vivo porcine vaginal irritation model, increased levels of vaginal IL-1 β, IL-8, and IL-18 were associated with histological changes consistent with vaginal inflammation. These results demonstrate that key cervicovaginal inflammatory cytokines are useful in vivo biomarkers for predicting the mucosal toxicity potential of vaginal products in the physiologically relevant and sensitive porcine model.

Influence of oxodiperoxovanadate complexes on prion neuropeptide fibril formation

Different oxodiperoxovanadate complexes inhibit the fibril formation of prion neuropeptides by different action modes.

Vanadium compounds in medicine

Vanadium is a transition metal that, being ubiquitously distributed in soil, crude oil, water and air, also found roles in biological systems and is an essential element in most living beings. There are also several groups of organisms which accumulate vanadium, employing it in their biological processes. Vanadium being a biological relevant element, it is not surprising that many vanadium based therapeutic drugs have been proposed for the treatment of several types of diseases. Namely, vanadium compounds, in particular organic derivatives, have been proposed for the treatment of diabetes, of cancer and of diseases caused by parasites. In this work we review the medicinal applications proposed for vanadium compounds with particular emphasis on the more recent publications. In cells, partly due to the similarity of vanadate and phosphate, vanadium compounds activate numerous signaling pathways and transcription factors; this by itself potentiates application of vanadium-based therapeutics. Nevertheless, this non-specific bio-activity may also introduce several deleterious side effects as in addition, due to Fenton's type reactions or of the reaction with atmospheric O2, VCs may also generate reactive oxygen species, thereby introducing oxidative stress with consequences presently not well evaluated, particularly for long-term administration of vanadium to humans. Notwithstanding, the potential of vanadium compounds to treat type 2 diabetes is still an open question and therapies using vanadium compounds for e.g. antitumor and anti-parasitic related diseases remain promising.

Synthesis, characterization, X-ray crystal structure, DFT calculation and antibacterial activities of new vanadium(IV, V) complexes containing chelidamic acid and novel thiourea derivatives

Three new thiourea ligands derived from the condensation of aroyl- and aryl-isothiocyanate derivatives with 2,6-diaminopyridine, named 1,1'-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(3-(benzoyl)thiourea) (L1), 1,1'-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(3-(2-chlorobenzoyl)thiourea) (L2) and 1,1'-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(3-(4-chlorophenyl)thiourea) (L3), their oxido-vanadium(IV) complexes, namely [VO(L1('))(H2O)] (C1), [VO(L2('))(H2O)] (C2) and [VO(L3('))(H2O)] (C3), and also, dioxo-vanadium(V) complex containing 4-hydroxy-2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid (chelidamic acid, H2dipic-OH) and metformin (N,N-dimethylbiguanide, Met), named [H2Met][VO2(dipic-OH)]2·H2O (C4), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR and (1)H NMR and UV-visible spectroscopies. Proposed structures for free thiourea ligands and their vanadium complexes were corroborated by applying geometry optimization and conformational analysis. Solid state structure of complex [H2Met][VO2(dipic-OH)]2·H2O (triclinic, Pī) was fully determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In this complex, metformin is double protonated and acted as counter ion. The antibacterial properties of these compounds were investigated in vitro against standard Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The experiments showed that vanadium(IV) complexes had the superior antibacterial activities than novel thiourea derivatives and vanadium(V) complex against all Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains.

A mononuclear diketone-based oxido-vanadium(iv) complex: structure, DNA and BSA binding, molecular docking and anticancer activities against MCF-7, HPG-2, and HT-29 cell lines

A mononuclear oxido-vanadium(iv) complex, [VO(L)₂], has been synthesized and its interactions with DNA and BSA have been investigated experimentally and theoretically.

Methionine oxidation of amyloid peptides by peroxovanadium complexes: inhibition of fibril formation through a distinct mechanism

Peroxovanadium complexes inhibit the fibril formation of neurodegenerative amyloid peptides by oxidizing methionine residues.

Bis{N-[methoxy(4-methylbenzamido)methyl]-2,4-dimethylanilinido-κ²N,O}copper(II)

In the centrosymmetric mononuclear title complex, [Cu(C₁₈H₂₀N₂O₂)₂], the Cu^II atom is four-coordinated in a trans-CuN₂O₂ square-planar geometry with the N—Cu—O chelate angle being 89.97 (11)°. The dihedral angles made by the planes defined by the aromatic ring carbons of the 4-methyl­benzene and 2,4-dimethyl­benzene fragments with the plane defined by the chelate ring are 13.43 (15) and 82.69 (13)° respectively. The angle between the planes defined by the aromatic carbons of the two rings is 89.40 (16)°. A a weak intra­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bond occurs.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase interactions with decaniobate, decavanadate, vanadate, tungstate and molybdate

Over the last few decades there has been increasing interest in oxometalate and polyoxometalate applications to medicine and pharmacology. This interest arose, at least in part, due to the properties of these classes of compounds as anti-cancer, anti-diabetic agents, and also for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, among others. However, our understanding of the mechanism of action would be improved if biological models could be used to clarify potential toxicological effects in main cellular processes. Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles, containing a large amount of Ca(2+)-ATPase, an enzyme that accumulates calcium by active transport using ATP, have been suggested as a useful model to study the effects of oxometalates on calcium homeostasis. In the present article, it is shown that decavanadate, decaniobate, vanadate, tungstate and molybdate, all inhibited SR Ca(2+)-ATPase, with the following IC(50) values: 15, 35, 50, 400 μM and 45 mM, respectively. Decaniobate (Nb(10)), is the strongest P-type enzyme inhibitor, after decavanadate (V(10)). Atomic-absorption spectroscopy (AAS) analysis, indicates that decavanadate binds to the protein with a 1:1 decavanadate:Ca(2+)-ATPase stoichiometry. Furthermore, V(10) binds with similar extension to all the protein conformations, which occur during calcium translocation by active transport, namely E1, E1P, E2 and E2P, as analysed by AAS. In contrast, it was confirmed that the binding of monomeric vanadate (H(2)VO(4)(2-); V(1)) to the calcium pump is favoured only for the E2 and E2P conformations of the ATPase, whereas no significant amount of vanadate is bound to the E1 and E1P conformations. Scatchard plot analysis, confirmed a 1:1 ratio for decavanadate-Ca(2+)-ATPase, with a dissociation constant, k(d) of 1 μM(-1). The interaction of decavanadate V(10)O(28)(6-) (V(10)) with Ca(2+)-ATPase is prevented by the isostructural and isoelectronic decaniobate Nb(10)O(28)(6-) (Nb(10)), whereas no significant effects were detected with ATP or with heparin, a known competitive ATP binding molecule, suggesting that V(10) binds non-competitively, with respect to ATP, to the protein. Finally, it was shown that decaniobate inhibits SR Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in a non competitive type of inhibition, with respect to ATP. Taken together, these data demonstrate that decameric niobate and vanadate species are stronger inhibitors of the SR calcium ATPase than simple monomeric vanadate, tungstate and molybdate oxometalates, thus affecting calcium homeostasis, cell signalling and cell bioenergetics, as well many other cellular processes. The ability of these oxometalates to act either as phosphate analogues, as a transition-state analogue in enzyme-catalysed phosphoryl group transfer processes and as potentially nucleotide-dependent enzymes modulators or inhibitors, suggests that different oxometalates may reveal different mechanistic preferences in these classes of enzymes.

Di-μ-chlorido-bis-[diacetonitrile-chlorido-oxidovanadium(IV)]

The title compound, [V₂Cl₄O₂(CH₃CN)₄], is a centrosymmetric dinuclear V^IV complex associated with four mol­ecules of acetonitrile. The coordination around both V^IV atoms is essentially square-planar, involving three Cl atoms and one O atom [maximum deviation = 0.017 (3) Å for the O atom]. The augmented octahedral coordination of the metal atom is completed by the N atoms of acetonitrile ligands. The V^IV atoms are linked by two Cl atoms, acting as bridging atoms. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin with a ratio of the two twin components of 0.8200 (3):0.1800 (3). Although Cl and O atoms are present as potential acceptors in the title compound, no hydrogen bonds were observed in the crystal structure.

Hazardous impact and translocation of vanadium (V) species from soil to different vegetables and grasses grown in the vicinity of thermal power plant

The distribution of vanadium (V) species in soil (test soil), vegetables and grasses, collected from the vicinity of a thermal power plant has been studied. For comparison purpose soil (control soil), same vegetable and grass samples were collected from agricultural land devoid of any industrial area. A simple and efficient ultrasonic assisted extraction method has been developed for the extraction of V(5+) species from soil, vegetable and grass samples using Na(2)CO(3) in the range of 0.1-0.5 mol/L. For comparison purpose same sub samples were also extracted by conventional heating method. The total and V species were determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using different modifiers. The validity of V(5+) and V(4+) determination had been confirmed by the spike recovery and total amount of V by the analysis of CRM 1570 (spinach leave) and sub samples of agricultural soil. The concentration of total V was found in the range of 90-215 and 11.4-42.3 μg/g in test and control soil samples, respectively. The contents of V(5+) and total V in vegetables and grasses grown around the thermal power plant were found in the range of 2.9-5.25 and 8.74-14.9 μg/g, respectively, which were significantly higher than those values obtained from vegetables and fodders grown in non exposed agricultural site (P<0.01). Statistical evaluations indicate that the sum of concentrations of V(5+) and V(4+) species was not significantly different from total concentration of V in same sub samples of vegetable, grass and soil of both origins, at 95% level of confidence.

Analysis of soil reference materials for vanadium(+5) species by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Solid Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) with known vanadium(+5) content are currently not commercially available. Because of this, vanadium species have been determined in solid CRMs of soil, viz. CRM023-50, CRM024-50, CRM049-50, SQC001 and SQC0012. These CRMs are certified with only total vanadium content. Vanadium(+5) was extracted from soil reference materials with 0.1M Na(2)CO(3). The quantification of V(+5) was carried out by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS). The concentration of V(+5) in the analyzed CRMs was found to be ranging between 3.60 and 86.0 microg g(-1). It was also found that SQC001 contains approximately 88% of vanadium as V(+5) species. Statistical evaluation of the results of the two methods by paired t-test was in good agreement at 95% level of confidence.

Synthesis, characterization and antidiabetic properties of N(1)-2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene-N(4)-2-hydroxybenzylidene-S-methyl-thiosemicarbazidato-oxovanadium(IV)

A new oxovanadium(IV) chelate [VOL] (L: N(1)-2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene-N(4)-2-hydroxybenzylidene-S-methyl-thiosemicarbazidato) was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity and magnetic measurements, UV-vis, IR, EPR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The biochemical and immunohistochemical effects of the administration of the vanadium complex (VOL) into the pancreas of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were profoundly investigated. The animals were randomly divided into four groups. Group I: control (intact) animals. Group II: control animals administered with VOL. Group III: STZ-induced diabetic animals. Group IV: STZ-induced diabetic animals administered with VOL. VOL was given to some of the experimental animals by gavage at a dose of 0.2mM/kg every day for 12 days. Blood samples were collected from animals, on 0 and 1, 6 and 12 days after STZ injection. On day 12, the pancreatic tissues were taken from the animals. The tissue sections were labelled with streptavidin biotin peroxidase technique for insulin. In the diabetic group, the blood glucose levels, aspartate and alanine transaminases, alkaline phosphatase activities were increased. But, in the diabetic+VOL groups, the blood glucose levels, aspartate and alanine transaminases, alkaline phosphatase activities were reduced. In the diabetic group, a decrease in the pancreatic glutathione levels, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities and an increase in the pancreatic lipid peroxidation level and catalase activities were observed. The administration of VOL to the diabetic rats reversed this diabetic effect due to its insulinomimetic effects. According to the immunohistochemical and biochemical results obtained, it was concluded that VOL can regenerate B cells of the pancreas in experimental diabetes and has an antidiabetic and protective effects on the pancreas.

Bioactivation of N-substituted N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thioureas by human FMO1 and FMO3

Enzyme kinetic parameters of the bioactivation of thiourea-containing compounds by human flavin-containing monooxygenase enzymes (FMOs) FMO1 and FMO3 were investigated. A microtitre-based adaptation of methodology described for the thiourea-dependent oxidation of thiocholine was used to determine the turnover of thiourea-containing compounds by human FMO1 and FMO3. The results show that major differences in enzyme kinetic parameters for N-substituted N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea exist between human FMO3 and human FMO1. Whereas Km values of N-substituted N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thioureas for human FMO3 are all in the millimolar range, the Km values for human FMO1 range from the low micromolar to the low millimolar range. Furthermore, among a series of N-p-phenyl-substituted N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thioureas an interesting structure-activity relationship is evident with both FMO1 and FMO3. Where the Km decreases with increasing electron-withdrawing capacity of the p-substituent in the case of FMO1, the opposite phenomenon may be the case with FMO3. The kcat values of the compounds were all comparable for FMO1, averaging 3.03 +/- 0.56 min-1, whereas more variation was found for FMO3 (3.71 +/- 2.01 min-1). Enzyme kinetic parameters Km and kcat/Km of human FMO1 for N-substituted N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thioureas show a high degree of correlation with the results obtained in rat liver microsomes, in which rat FMO1 is the most abundant form, whereas those of human FMO3 do not.

Some uses of transition metal complexes as anti-cancer and anti-HIV agents

The success of the clinical uses of cisplatin, cis-[Pt(II)(NH(3))(2)Cl(2)], has stimulated considerable interest in using other metal complexes as new therapeutic agents. This perspective describes our recent work on several classes of gold(III), platinum(II), ruthenium(II, III, IV), iron(II) and vanadium(IV) complexes for anti-cancer and anti-HIV treatments.

Speciation of vanadium in oilsand coke and bacterial culture by high performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A simple and sensitive method for the speciation of vanadium(III), (IV), and (V) was developed by using high performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICPMS). The EDTA-complexed vanadium species were separated on a strong anion exchange column with an eluent containing 2 mM EDTA, 3% acetonitrile, and 80 mM ammonium bicarbonate at pH 6. Each analysis was complete in 5 min. The detection limits were 0.6, 0.7 and 1.0 microg L(-1) for V(III), V(IV), and V(V), respectively. The method was applied to coke pore water samples from an oilsand processing/upgrading site in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada and to Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 bacterial cultures incubated with V(V). In the coke pore water samples, V(IV) and V(V) were found to be the major species. For the first time, V(III) was detected in the bacterial cultures incubated with V(V).

Effects of vanadate on male rat reproductive tract histology, oxidative stress markers and androgenic enzyme activities

Vanadium has been recognized as industrial hazards that adversely affect male reproductive systems of humans and animals. However, less information is available concerning the underlying mechanism in the pathogenesis of male reproductive dysfunction. The present study investigated the possible involvement of oxidative stress to induce oxidative deterioration of testicular functions in adult rats. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that vanadium treatment resulted in a significant dose- and time-dependent increase in the testicular lipid peroxidation, marked inhibition in the level of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, decreased sperm counts, and substantially inhibited the activities of Delta(5)3beta- and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase as well as serum testosterone level. Histopathological examination revealed inhibition of spermatogenesis and the preferential loss of maturing and elongated spermatids along with increased percent of abnormal sperm. Taken together, the results suggest that an increase in free radical formation relative to loss of antioxidant defense system during vanadium exposure may render testis more susceptible to oxidative damage leading to their functional inactivation. Thus the toxic effects of vanadium are cumulative and that vanadium produced damages in testes are dose- and time-dependent.

Coordination of oxovanadium(v) in an expanded porphyrin macrocycle

The formation of a dioxovanadium(V) complex of an expanded porphyrin-type Schiff base macrocycle is reported; the tetrapyrrolic ligand undergoes a tautomeric shift which permits a bimodal recognition of the nonspherical cationic guest.

Decavanadate effects in biological systems

Vanadium biological studies often disregarded the formation of decameric vanadate species known to interact, in vitro, with high-affinity with many proteins such as myosin and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump and also to inhibit these biochemical systems involved in energy transduction. Moreover, very few in vivo animal studies involving vanadium consider the contribution of decavanadate to vanadium biological effects. Recently, it has been shown that an acute exposure to decavanadate but not to other vanadate oligomers induced oxidative stress and a different fate in vanadium intracellular accumulation. Several markers of oxidative stress analyzed on hepatic and cardiac tissue were monitored after in vivo effect of an acute exposure (12, 24 h and 7 days), to a sub-lethal concentration (5 mM; 1 mg/kg) of two vanadium solutions ("metavanadate" and "decavanadate"). It was observed that "decavanadate" promote different effects than other vanadate oligomers in catalase activity, glutathione content, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial superoxide anion production and vanadium accumulation, whereas both solutions seem to equally depress reactive oxygen species (ROS) production as well as total intracellular reducing power. Vanadium is accumulated in mitochondria in particular when "decavanadate" is administered. These recent findings, that are now summarized, point out the decameric vanadate species contributions to in vivo and in vitro effects induced by vanadium in biological systems.

Physiologically stable vanadium(iv) porphyrins as a new class of anti-HIV agents

The water soluble oxovanadium(IV) tetraarylporphyrin has demonstrated excellent solution stability against glutathione reduction and high potency (5 microM, 97% inhibition) in inhibiting HIV-1 replication in Hut/CCR5 cells.

Comparative cytotoxicity of N-substituted N′-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea in precision-cut rat liver slices

In order to more rationally design thiourea-containing drugs and drug candidates, specifically thiourea-containing histamine H3 receptor antagonists, it is necessary to develop structure-toxicity relationships (STRs). For this purpose, the cytotoxicity of a series of thiourea-containing compounds was tested in precision-cut rat liver slices. A concentration of 1000 microM of N-p-bromophenyl, N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea (8) or N-p-nitrophenyl, N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea (9) was found to cause cytotoxicity, evidenced as LDH leakage, resulting in more than 95% LDH leakage after 6h. N-p-Methoxyphenyl, N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea (6) caused 40.6 +/- 19.7% LDH leakage after 6h. Control levels of cell death (1% methanol as control vehicle) were below 20% in 6h. After 6h of exposure, N-p-chlorophenyl, N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea (7), 8, and 9 were already found to cause significant cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100 microM. At 200 microM, 9 was found to cause significantly more cytotoxicity than 7 and 8. N-Naphthyl, N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea (12) was found to cause significant cytotoxicity towards precision-cut rat liver slices after 6h of exposure to a concentration of 500 microM. All other N-substituted, N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea tested in this study were not found to be cytotoxic towards precision-cut rat liver slices within the 6h of exposure up to a concentration of 1000 microM. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) content and mitochondrial MTT reduction activity were also examined after exposure of slices to N-substituted, N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea. Both of these markers, however, were not found to provide additional information regarding the possible mechanisms of cytotoxicity, i.e. GSH depletion or reduced mitochondrial activity since these markers did not clearly precede LDH leakage. A correlation was found between cytotoxicity towards precision-cut rat liver slices and Vmax/Km values for the formation of sulfenic acids from N-substituted N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea by hepatic rat flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMO). The compound with the highest Vmax/Km value for the formation of sulfenic acids, 9, was also the most cytotoxic. Compounds with a significantly lower Vmax/Km value, 7, 8, and 12, were less cytotoxic than 9. Compounds with a Vmax/Km value for the formation of sulfenic acids lower than 0.0788 ml/(minmg) were found not to be cytotoxic towards precision-cut rat liver slices for concentrations up to 1000 microM at an exposure time of 6h. It is concluded, from this study, that N-phenyl substituted N'-(4-imidazole-ethyl)thiourea-containing electron-withdrawing p-substituents are cytotoxic towards precision-cut rat liver slices. Cytotoxicity is increased with increasing electron-withdrawing capacity of the p-substituent. A correlation was found to exist between Vmax/Km value for the formation of sulfenic acids by rat liver FMO enzymes and cytotoxicity.

Development and evaluation of a thermoreversible ovule formulation of stampidine, a novel nonspermicidal broad-spectrum anti-human immunodeficiency virus microbicide

Stampidine [2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxythymidine 5'-[p-bromophenyl methoxyalaninyl phosphate], a prodrug of stavudine (STV/d4T) with improved anti-HIV activity, is undergoing development as a novel nonspermicidal microbicide. Here, we report the stability of stampidine as a function of pH, preparation of a novel thermoreversible ovule formulation for mucosal delivery, its dissolution profile in synthetic vaginal fluid, and its mucosal toxicity potential as well as systemic absorption in the rabbit model. Stampidine was most stable under acidic conditions. Stampidine was solubilized in a thermoreversible ovule formulation composed of polyethylene glycol 400, polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters, and polysorbate 80. Does were exposed intravaginally for 14 days to an ovule formulation with and without 0.5%, 1%, or 2% stampidine corresponding to 1 x 107- to 4 x 107-fold higher than its in vitro anti-HIV IC50 value. Vaginal tissues harvested on Day 15 were evaluated for mucosal toxicity and cellular inflammation. Additionally, does were exposed intravaginally to stampidine, and plasma collected at various time points was assayed by analytical HPLC for the prodrug and its bioactive metabolites. Stampidine did not cause mucosal inflammation. The vaginal irritation scores for 0.5-2% stampidine were within the acceptable range for clinical trials. The prodrug and its major metabolites were undetectable in the blood plasma. The marked stability of stampidine at acidic pH, its rapid spreadability, together with its lack of mucosal toxicity or systemic absorption of stampidine via a thermoreversible ovule may provide the foundation for its clinical development as an easy-to-use, safe, and effective broad-spectrum anti-HIV microbicide without contraceptive activity.