An iron (III) complex with rhamnoxylan, a hemicellulose from Salvia plebeia seeds, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic and magnetic susceptibility measurements, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The rhamnoxylan was found to be a branched hemicellulose consisting of β-1,4-linked xylose main chain and rhamnose attached to the chain at β-1,3 positions. The complex was found to contain 18.8% w/w iron. A high-spin octahedral geometry of Fe³⁺ was indicated by the electronic absorption spectrum of the complex. In other experiments, the complex exhibited good electrical and magnetic properties. In vivo efficacy, as hematinic, of the complex in induced anemia was demonstrated equivalent to that of iron protein succinylate (taken as standard) as evidenced by raised red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and total iron in rabbit. The complex was found to be non-toxic with LD50 > 5000 mg kg⁻¹ body weight in rabbit. Thus, iron(III)-rhamnoxylan hold the potential for application as hematinic for treatment of iron deficiency anemia.

This study investigated the synthesis and pharmacological properties of chromium metal complexes with sulfonylureas (hypoglycemic agents). In these complexes, the structural element (chromium) is held within the cavity of the β-cyclodextrin (βCD) molecule. Conditions were optimized for the inclusion complex: 1:1 host–guest ratio, pH = 12, and temperature: ∼25 °C. Cr(III)-Gliclazide (GCZ) and βCD under appropriate experimental conditions show circular dichroism (CD) bands in the visible region: positive Cotton bands at 24,691 cm–1 (Δε = 20.103 degree L mol–1 cm–1) and 16,666 cm–1 (Δε = 26.6 × 10–3 degree L mol–1 cm–1) and a strong negative Cotton band at 19,230 cm–1 (Aε = 38.1 × 10–3 degree L mol–1 cm–1). The synthesized complexes were assessed for their hypoglycemic activity in rabbits with alloxan-induced diabetes. Cr(III)-GCZ showed an early therapeutic response that persisted over an extended duration, while the Cr(III)-GCZ-βCD inclusion complex showed a delayed therapeutic response but maintained an extended duration of activity compared with the reference (parent) drug, gliclazide (GCZ). The synthesized complexes exhibited good therapeutic potential, and the toxicity of these complexes was found to be quite low (high LD50 values).