Unraveling the mystery of nitric oxide: Nobel prize winners Robert Furchgott, Louis Ignarro, and Ferid Murad

Abstract

In the 21st century, none of the scientists denies the determining role of the cardiovascular system and its central organ, the heart. The ongoing attempts to design new medications, elaborate effective trainings, heart transplant programs testify that humanity does not abandon attempts to improve and prolong human life, especially given the fact that the world’s biggest killer is ischemic heart disease. The most significant achievements in this field receive the highest rating in the scientific community – the Nobel Prize. In 1998, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Robert F. Furchgott, Louis J. Ignarro and Ferid Murad “for their discoveries concerning nitric oxide as a signaling molecule in cardiovascular system”. Their discovery triggered an international boom in research on nitric oxide. The paper aims to outline briefly the main stages of the scientific activity of R.F. Furchgott, L.J. Ignarro and F. Murad.