Anti-diabetic properties of genistein-chromium (III) complex in db/db diabetic mice and its sub-acute toxicity evaluation in normal mice

In this study, chromium (III) complex was synthesized from genistein (GEN) which had good hypoglycemic activity and inorganic chromium (III) element, and its hypoglycemic activity and sub-acute toxicity were studied. The genistein-chromium (III) complex was synthesized by chelating chromium with genistein in ethanol and its structure was determined by LC–MS, atomic absorption spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, elemental and thermodynamic analysis. The anti-diabetic activity of the complex was assessed in db/db mice and C57 mice by daily oral gavage for 4 weeks. The sub-acute toxicity test was carried out on KM mice with this complex. The molecular structure of this complex was inferred as a complex [CrGEN3] formed by three ligands and one chromium element. The complex could significantly improve the body weight of db/db mice, fasting blood glucose, random blood glucose, organ index, glycogen levels and the performance of OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) and ITT (Insulin Tolerance Test) in db/db mice (p