Glycerol nitrate

Glycerol nitrate, an ester of tris-petric acid, a colourless, odourless and poorly water-soluble liquid, is used medicinally as a pharmaceutical with a fast-acting, vasodilating effect. Furthermore, nitroglcerin serves as an explosive.

NO (nitric oxide) is enzymatically released from nitroglycerine in the organism. Nitric oxide leads to a cGMP-mediated relaxation of the smooth muscle cells. By acting on the smooth muscle cells in the walls of the blood vessels, the substance has a vasodilating effect.

Local: Glycerol nitrate has a relaxing effect on the smooth sphincter muscles and is therefore used in local form (0.1-0.2%) as a cream to reduce tone in proctological therapy.

Systemic: Glycerol nitrate has an effect within 1-2 min with sublingual application and is therefore used for angina pectoris (I20.9).

The lipophilic substance is poorly soluble in water, volatile. Because of its explosive nature, the substance is subject to the law of explosives. A 5% oily stock solution is therefore recommended.