Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), also known as nitroglycerin, is a nitrate vasodilator widely used to treat angina pectoris, heart failure, and other cardiovascular conditions by releasing nitric oxide (NO), which relaxes vascular smooth muscle, dilates blood vessels, and improves blood flow to the heart, thereby reducing cardiac workload and oxygen demand. First synthesized in 1847 by Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero as a highly explosive compound, its medicinal properties were later discovered by William Murrell in the 1870s, who demonstrated its effectiveness in relieving angina symptoms. GTN can be administered sublingually, orally, transdermally, or intravenously, and over time its formulations and delivery methods have evolved to improve efficacy, safety, and patient convenience, making it a cornerstone and enduring drug in cardiovascular therapy.
