Comprehensive Report on the Pharmacology and Therapeutic Application of Nitrates

[Introduction and Chemical Foundation]

Defining the Nitrate Moiety (DB14049): From Inorganic Ion to Pharmacological Prodrug

The chemical entity identified by DrugBank ID DB14049 and CAS Number 14797-55-8 is the nitrate ion, a fundamental small molecule with the molecular formula NO3−​.[1] It is a polyatomic anion composed of a central nitrogen atom covalently bonded to three identical oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement, carrying a formal charge of -1.[2] As the conjugate base of nitric acid (

HNO3​), the nitrate ion is the principal species present in aqueous solutions at physiological pH (pH 7.3).[1] It is highly soluble in water, a property stemming from its polar nature and its ability to interact with water molecules.[5] The nitrate ion is the more stable oxidized form of nitrogen in the environment compared to the nitrite ion (

NO2−​), to which it can be reduced by biotic processes.[5]

While the query specifically identifies this simple inorganic ion, its primary significance in the context of medicine and pharmacology is not as a standalone therapeutic agent but as the core functional moiety of a critically important class of drugs known as organic nitrates.[7] These therapeutic agents are not inorganic salts but are esters of nitric acid, formed by the reaction of nitric acid with alcohols.[1] In this pharmacological context, organic nitrates function as prodrugs; they are biologically inert compounds that, upon administration, undergo metabolic conversion within the body to yield the active signaling molecule responsible for their therapeutic effects.[9] Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of "Nitrate" as a medication requires a detailed examination of this entire drug class, which has been a cornerstone of cardiovascular therapy for over a century.[7]