The effect of the
vanadium complex
bis[curcumino]oxovanadium (BCOV) on
blood glucose level, serum
lipid levels, blood pressure and vascular reactivity were studied in non-diabetic and
streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ-diabetic) rats and compared to that of
vanadyl sulfate.
Blood glucose level, serum
lipid levels, and blood pressure were significantly increased in STZ-diabetic rats. Vascular reactivity to various agonists such as
noradrenaline and
acetylcholine were significantly increased in STZ-diabetic rats.
Blood glucose and serum
lipid levels were restored to normal in STZ-diabetic animals treated with
vanadyl sulfate at a concentration of 0.5 mmol/kg/day (p.o.). However,
vanadyl sulfate at a concentration of 0.2 mmol/kg/day (p.o.) did not produce any significant change in
blood glucose and
lipid levels. There was no significant effect of
vanadyl sulfate (0.2 or 0.5 mmol/kg/day) treatment on blood pressure and vascular reactivity in STZ-diabetic rats.
Vanadyl sulfate significantly reduced the
body weight of non-diabetic and STZ-diabetic rats. Moreover, it also caused severe
diarrhea in both groups of animals. Treatment with BCOV (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2mmol/kg/day, p.o.) significantly decreased
blood glucose level and serum
lipids in STZ-diabetic rats. Furthermore, administration of BCOV to STZ-diabetic rats restored the blood pressure and vascular reactivity to agonists to normal. There was no significant change in the
body weight of BCOV treated non-diabetic and STZ-diabetic rats.
Diarrhea was not observed in both BCOV treated groups. In conclusion, the present study shows that the
vanadium complex BCOV has
antidiabetic and hypolipedimic effects. In addition, it improves the cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.