QSAR Studies of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitors.

Background: Nitric oxide is a free radical bioregulator controlling homeostasis, vasodilation, and inhibition of platelet aggregation, significantly implicated in the nervous and immune system functionality. In vivo it is produced by nitric oxide synthases (NOSs).

Objective: Overproduction of nitric oxide is linked to several inflammatory, immunological, and neurodegenerative diseases and for that, various compounds have been synthesized as inhibitors of NOSs.

Hybrids as NO Donors.

Cinnamic acid and its derivatives have been studied for a variety of biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antihypertensive, and antibacterial. Many hybrids of cinnamic derivatives with other bioactive molecules have been synthesized and evaluated as nitric oxide (NO) donors. Since NO plays a significant role in various biological processes, including vasodilation, inflammation, and neurotransmission, NO donor groups are incorporated into the structures of already-known bioactive molecules to enhance their biological properties.