Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Inas M. Al-Younis
Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
Hamdoon A. Mohammed
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
Manel Dhahri
Biology Department, Faculty of Science Yanbu, Taibah University, Yanbu 46423, Saudi Arabia
Fouzi Mouffouk
Department of Chemistry, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Kuwait City 13060, Kuwait
Hijazi Abu Ali
Department Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Birzeit University, Birzeit P.O. Box 14, Palestine
Md. Jamir Anwar
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Unaizah 51911, Saudi Arabia
Kamal A. Qureshi
Department of Pharmaceutics, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Unaizah 51911, Saudi Arabia
Mostafa A. Hussien
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Mawadda Alghrably
Smart-Health Initiative (SHI), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Jeddah 23955, Saudi Arabia
Mariusz Jaremko
Smart-Health Initiative (SHI), Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Jeddah 23955, Saudi Arabia
Noura Alasmael
Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
Joanna Izabela Lachowicz
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Università di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Abdul-Hamid Emwas
Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
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.
