Advances in Design and Development of Inhibitors of Nitric Oxide Synthases

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is a dimeric enzyme that catalyses the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the human body. The nitric oxide has been identified as the most interesting and vital mediators for normal and pathological processes, including the regulation of blood pressure, neurotransmission, and macrophage defence system, but the over production of it can be toxic, hence their inhibitors are desired. In this article, the various isoforms of NOS and their roles are described and a detail of the development of their inhibitors has been presented. The inhibitors studied include aminopyridines, iminopiperidines, N-phenylamidines, benzoxazolones, isothioureas, oxazepanes, thiazepanes, diazepanes, 4,5-disubstituted-1,3-oxazolidin-2-imine derivatives, thiazolidines, pyrazoles, pyrazolines, and some others.