Trends in H2S-Donors Chemistry and Their Effects in Cardiovascular Diseases

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter recently emerged as an important regulatory mediator of numerous human cell functions in health and in disease. In fact, much evidence has suggested that hydrogen sulfide plays a significant role in many physio-pathological processes, such as inflammation, oxidation, neurophysiology, ion channels regulation, cardiovascular protection, endocrine regulation, and tumor progression. Considering the plethora of physiological effects of this gasotransmitter, the protective role of H2S donors in different disease models has been extensively studied. Based on the growing interest in H2S-releasing compounds and their importance as tools for biological and pharmacological studies, this review is an exploration of currently available H2S donors, classifying them by the H2S-releasing-triggered mechanism and highlighting those potentially useful as promising drugs in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Automated summary

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter that has emerged as an important regulatory mediator in numerous human cell functions. It plays a significant role in various physio-pathological processes and the protective effects of H2S donors have been extensively studied in different disease models. The growing interest in H2S-releasing compounds highlights their potential as promising drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.