Malonato complexes of oxidovanadium(IV): Synthesis, structural characterization and exploration of their insulin mimetic properties

Several bis-malonatooxidovanadium(IV) complexes of the general type [M2(H2O)n][VO(mal)2(H2O)] (where M = Li(1), Na(2), K(3), Cs(4) and NH4(5); n = 3.5, 1, 3, 1 and 1, respectively) were isolated in good yield and high purity. These complexes were fully characterized by various physicochemical techniques (elemental analysis, UV–Vis, IR, EPR, CV, etc.) complexes 1, 2 and 3 were structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. In vivo antidiabetic properties of bis-malonato complexes 1, 2, 3 and 5 have been studied using Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Significant lowering of blood sugar level has been noticed. At the same time these complexes were found to regulate secondary pathophysiological complications like liver damage and lowering of the total antioxidant status (TAS) in diabetic rats. Results of these study are expected to a expand the possibility of designing new oxidovanadium(IV) complexes of O,O chelating ligands with significant antidiabetic properties.