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Related Concept Videos

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO201:20

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO2

Secondary amines react with nitrous acid to form N-nitrosamines, as depicted in Figure 1. Nitrous acid, a weak and unstable acid, is formed in situ from an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite and strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, in cold conditions. In the presence of an acid, the nitrous acid gets protonated. The subsequent loss of water results in the formation of the electrophile known as nitrosonium ion.
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway01:28

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

Nitric oxide (NO), an inorganic gas, acts as a potent second messenger in most animal and plant tissues. NO diffuses out of the cells that produce it and enters the neighboring cells to generate a downstream response. NO synthase (NOS) catalyzes NO production by the deamination of the amino acid arginine. There are three isoforms of NOS. Endothelial cells have endothelial NOS (eNOS), nerve and muscle cells have neuronal NOS (nNOS), and macrophages produce inducible NOS (iNOS) upon exposure to...
Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers01:16

Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers

In cardiovascular health, antianginal drugs combat angina pectoris — a condition marked by chest pain owing to diminished blood flow to the heart.
Organic nitrates,  such as nitroglycerin, play a pivotal role. Once metabolized, they liberate nitric oxide, a molecular marvel. Nitric oxide triggers guanylyl cyclase and augments cGMP production. This biochemical cascade orchestrates the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, ushering in vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow. Administered...
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview01:26

1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview

Nitrous acid and nitric acids are two types of acids containing nitrogen, among which nitrous acid is weaker than nitric acid. Nitrous acid with a pKa value of 3.37 ionizes in water to give a nitrite ion and the hydronium ion.
The nitrous acid is unstable. Hence, it is formed in situ from a solution of sodium nitrite and cold aqueous acids such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. In an acidic solution, the –OH group of nitrous acid undergoes protonation to give oxonium ion, followed by water loss...
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators01:23

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Vasodilators, primarily affecting the smooth muscles within arterial and venous walls, are commonly used for hypertension treatment. Medications such as minoxidil and hydralazine primarily target arteries and arterioles, while sodium nitroprusside acts on arterioles and venules. Minoxidil, functioning as a prodrug, is metabolized by hepatic sulfotransferase into its active form, minoxidil sulfate, after oral administration. This metabolite binds to the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) component of...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements
07:19

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Published on: July 29, 2021

Dietary nitrate--good or bad?

Mark Gilchrist1, Paul G Winyard, Nigel Benjamin

  • 1Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter, St. Luke's Campus, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK. mark.gilchrist@pms.ac.uk

Nitric Oxide : Biology and Chemistry
|October 31, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Inorganic nitrate, once feared for potential carcinogenicity, is now recognized for beneficial roles. Recent evidence highlights its conversion to nitric oxide, offering protection against infection and vascular disease.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements
07:19

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Published on: July 29, 2021

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Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity

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Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds
08:23

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds

Published on: February 16, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Inorganic nitrate has been a subject of extensive scientific and public discussion.
  • Early research (1970s) raised concerns about its potential metabolism into carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds.
  • More recent studies indicate beneficial physiological effects of inorganic nitrate.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the dual nature of inorganic nitrate metabolism in the human body.
  • To explore the potential protective functions of nitrate-derived metabolites.
  • To assess the emerging evidence for nitrate's role in health and disease prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of historical and contemporary scientific publications.
  • Analysis of metabolic pathways involving inorganic nitrate conversion.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding physiological outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Nitrate can be metabolized to N-nitroso compounds, posing theoretical carcinogenic risks.
  • Nitrate is also converted to nitrite and then to nitric oxide (NO).
  • Nitric oxide derived from nitrate has demonstrated protective functions.

Conclusions:

  • The metabolic fate of inorganic nitrate is complex, with both potential risks and significant benefits.
  • Nitrate supplementation may offer protective effects against infection and vascular disease.
  • Nitrate's role in improving exercise performance and gastric protection warrants further investigation.