Nitric oxide-donating non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: the case of nitroderivatives of aspirin.

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a key signalling mechanism in a number of cells and tissues in the mammalian organism. Modulation of the biosynthesis of NO has emerged to be relevant to the treatment of a variety of human diseases. In the attempt to reduce the serious side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially in the gastrointestinal tract, a NO-releasing moiety has been linked to conventional NSAIDs. A prototypical example is that of NO-releasing derivatives of aspirin. Thanks to the cytoprotective action of NO such compounds do not produce gastric damage and are emerging as an interesting novel group of drugs for their unique pharmacological properties.