Flush with a flash: natural three-component antimicrobial combinations based on S-nitrosothiols, controlled superoxide formation and "domino" reactions leading to peroxynitrite

Medchemcomm. 2018 Oct 24;9(12):1994-1999. doi: 10.1039/c8md00414e. eCollection 2018 Dec 1.

Abstract

S-Nitrosothiols are ˙NO releasing agents renowned for vasodilatory and antioxidant properties. O2˙- promotes their decomposition, forming highly aggressive peroxynitrite ions (ONOO-). Since the production of O2˙- can be controlled by enzymes or by visible light, such otherwise harmless components can be turned into effective antimicrobial and nematicidal combinations with numerous potential applications in medicine.