N-hydroxyl derivatives of guanidine based drugs as enzymatic NO donors.

Recent research suggests that NO may play a role in the physiological effects of some guanidine-containing drugs. In this report, three guanidine-containing drugs (guanadrel, guanoxan, and guanethidine) together with their N-hydroxyl derivatives were synthesized and their NO-releasing abilities catalyzed by nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) and horseradish peroxidase were evaluated. The guanidine containing compounds could not release NO in the presence of NOS or peroxidase. The corresponding N-hydroxyl compounds exhibited weak NO-releasing ability under the catalyzed of NOS and good NO-releasing ability under the oxidation by horseradish peroxidase in the presence of H(2)O(2). These compounds also displayed vasodilatory activity.