Pharmacology
Many pharmacology studies have been performed to understand the effects of ammonium metavanadate. Studies have been performed on Piearactus mesopotamicus, Wistar rats, bovine, murine, and Samonella typhimurium. In the study of Holmberg, different doses of ammonium metavanadate were tested and examined for growth and metabolism effects on pacu. The study did not improve the metabolism as hypothesized but cytotoxicity and reduced growth were noted at high doses.
The administration of ammonium metavanadate in rats has been known to have negative effects on fertility, reproductive performance, and progeny. Ammonium metavanadate and other vanadium compounds are “known to cross the placental barrier and accumulate in the fetuses especially in the fetal skeleton.” In a study by Morgan and El-Tawil, the effects of ammonium metavanadate were examined in three groups; a control without ammonium metavanadate, treated female rats with untreated males, and untreated female rats with treated males. It was noted that ammonium metavanadate caused visceral and skeletal anomalies in both treated groups. In fetuses, visceral anomalies consisted of dilated brain ventricles, dilated nares, olfactory bulb, renal hypoplasia, and other abnormalities. In fetuses, skeletal anomalies consisted of wide separation of parietal bones, extra ribs, absence of carpal and metacarpal, tarsal and metatarsal bones, and other abnormalities. Reproductive organs of the treated sex were also shown to be affected and to weigh less than those of untreated rats. No overall body weight was seen in treated rats.
A few studies have been done to counteract the toxic effects of ammonium metavanadate. The study by Soussi et al., examined the cytotoxicity caused by oxidative stress from indigestion of ammonium metavanadate in Wistar rats and the anti-oxidative effects of Camillia sinensis tea leaves after the administration of ammonium metavanadate. Camillia sinensis was selected for its “polyphenols which are known to possess antioxidative properties due to their radical scavenging and metal-chelating functions.” From the analysis of the impact and effects of lipid peroxidation, superoxidismutase, catalase activities, vitamin E, and vitamin A, both oxidative stress properties of ammonium metavanadate and anti-oxidative properties of the Camillia sinensis were supported.
Ammonium metavanadate has been identified in fly ash from coal combustion which has been known to cause respiratory problems. A study by Vaddi and Wei, demonstratred the effects of ammonium metavanadate on bovine pulmonary alveolar macrophages. These macrophages were selected to demonstrate the effect of ammonium metavanadate on the respiratory system’s defense mechanisms. Viability, phagocytosis, and chemiluminescence (with the presence of luminol) of macrophages were examined with the presence of various concentrations, temperatures, and exposure time. Cytotoxicity was found in high concentrations (0.5-1.0 µl/ml) after 8 hours based on phagocytic activity and viability tests. Low concentrations of ammonium metavanadate (0.01-0.1 µl/ml) were not cytotoxic “even after 24 hour exposure”. Cytotoxicity within these macrophages can lead to infection and disease of the respiratory system.
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