A new candidate for insulinomimetic vanadium complex: synergism of oxovanadium(IV)porphyrin and sodium ascorbate.

Vanadyl-meso-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin, VOTMpyP with the VO(N(4)) coordination mode, was found to have a potent insulinomimetic activity on the basis of in vitro and in vivo experiments. When the complex was given simultaneously with sodium ascorbate, the high blood glucose levels of type 1 diabetic model STZ-rats were lowered by synergistic effect, probably sustaining the vanadyl state by means of ascorbate distributed in the organs and tissues of animals. This is the first finding on not only the insulinomimetic vanadyl-porphyrin complex but also the occurrence of a synergistic effect of VOTMpyP and sodium ascorbate to lower the high blood glucose levels in diabetic animals.