Because nearly all human systems rely on Nitric Oxide for homeostasis

Qinino™

A patent-pending biodegradable Nitric Oxide prodrug. Making use of the beautiful symbiosis between human and bacteria.

Qinino™ enables controlled microbial bioactivation of nitrate into nitrite on the skin and mucous membranes.

Background

With more than 150.000 papers published on Nitric Oxide (NO), the scientific and medical literature tells us that loss of NO production and availability is the earliest event in the onset and progression of many diseases. Several studies have established that NO plays an important biological role, for example as a critical regulator of vascular homeostasis, neurotransmission, redox signalling, cell respiration, and host defence. This molecule is so important it was named “Molecule of the Year” by Science Magazine in 1992 and in 1998 a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to the three US Scientists responsible for its discovery.

Until recently it was thought that there was only one pathway for the production of NO in the body, the so-called enzymatic pathway. Three NOS (Nitric Oxide Synthase) enzymes produce NO from L-Arginine (an amino acid) and oxygen. But in the late nineties of the last century another pathway was discovered; the nitrate – nitrite – nitric oxide pathway.

This route was known to be responsible for NO production in plants and bacteria by converting inorganic nitrate into NO. With the help of bacteria in the mouth, gut, skin and mucous membranes, humans can produce NO from inorganic nitrate.

This pathway might serve as a backup system to ensure sufficient NO bioactivity also in situations when the enzymatic L-Arginine/NO pathway is dysfunctional.
The first step in this pathway, the reduction of nitrate to nitrite, can be taken by bacteria only.

How to fuel this route?
Through dietary nitrate (for example in the form of nitrate-rich vegetables such as leafy greens, beetroot, and spinach), nitrate reaches the bloodstream and part of it is excreted in the saliva. Oral bacteria take care of the conversion of salivary nitrate into nitrite in the mouth. The main challenge, however, is to bring nitrate to the right type of bacteria in and on other parts of the body. To achieve this, a suitable nitrate carrier is required; this is where Qinino™ comes in.

Company

NO-ceuticals B.V. is a Dutch start-up with its roots in medicine.

Patent

NO-ceuticals filed its first patent which is currently pending.

Research

To scientifically proof the effects of Qinino™️,  NO-ceuticals is currently testing one of the applications in a clinical setting.

Partnerships

Qinino™️ carries significant potential for various fields of applications. NO-ceuticals would like to open-innovate with partners that are active in those fields to further unleash it’s potential.

Homeostasis

Many scientists have written on the effects of NO in and on the human body, below an overview of some of those more recent findings. 

Bodies change as we age. This is true for Nitric Oxide levels in the body, as well. Nitric Oxide is made by every cell in the body; however, production declined by 10-12% per decade starting in the early 20s. By age 40-50, we make only 50%. Our ability to produce and generate NO within the body is a key element of a healthy body.

As Nitric Oxide is involved in many processes in the skin (including cutaneous microcirculation, melanogenesis, barrier function, angiogenesis and cellular proliferation), it can have a substantial impact on diseases like Atopic dermatitis, Psoriasis, Acne vulgaris and Raynaud disease.

The nitrates in nitrate-rich vegetables are efficiently absorbed in the first part of the gastrointestinal tract. Only about 5% of the initially consumed dietary nitrate will be converted into biologically active nitrite, or, after further reduction, into (derivatives of) NO. Additionally, people who use antiseptic mouthwash can destroy all those good bacteria in the mouth that are responsible for reducing dietary nitrate into nitrite and NO and therefore reduce the NO availability even further. Increasing NO via nutrition can have a meaningful impact as can be read in the articles below.

Nitric Oxide can enhance tendon healing (tendinopathy), and it gives relief of swelling and pain. Glycerine trinitrate (GTN) ointment has been applied for many years, but the side effects of GTN are serious. Therefore a good alternative with fewer side effects would be a warm welcome.

Use-cases

Atopic dermatitis
Has been suffering for many years from eczema on her face, neck, arms and legs with extremely itchy skin. Many corticosteroid creams had been administered to manage the symptoms. Then the treatment was changed. A cream containing Qinino™️ has been applied to the skin twice a day. Since this intervention, there was only a need for a corticosteroid cream containing 0.1 % Triamcinolone about two times a month.
5-year-old girl
Raynaud syndrome
Familiar with scleroderma Raynaud’s complaints in cold weather conditions. Cold, stiff and painful hands are symptoms due to poor circulation of blood. The patient has experienced considerable improvement (less pain and stiffness and warmer hands) after applying a cream with Qinino™️ three times a day. Throughout the year the emulsion is used continuously but less often in the summertime.
50-year-old male
Hypertension
Used blood pressure lowering medicines before. Without medication, his blood pressure was 145 mm Hg systolic and 100 mm Hg diastolic. He has been administered with Qinino™️ for one year, at a dosage of one capsule administered two times per day. The blood pressure of the patient became normal, i.e. 130/85 systolic/diastolic within three months. He has not experienced any side effects.
65-year-old male
Diabetic polyneuropathy
Has had diabetes and severe polyneuropathy of the legs for years. The patient could not sleep at night because of leg pain. After applying a cream containing Qinino™️ on her legs twice a day for one month, she experienced a significant improvement in her condition, i.e. pain relief. Nitric Oxide is believed to modulate the small nerve fibres responsible for pain generation. As polyneuropathy is a chronic condition, lifelong treatment is required.
66-year-old female
Lateral epicondylitis
Has been suffering from a painful right underarm and elbow for four months, it was diagnosed as a tennis elbow. He received physiotherapy and got one injection of 1 ml Kenacort A10 combined with 1 ml Xylocaine in the tendon insertion on the lateral epicondyle. The patient started with topical application of the Qinino™️ cream two times a day. The patient experienced less pain after two weeks of use and continued applying the cream once a day for one month.
42-year-old male
Fissura ani
Suffering from pain caused by a fissura ani, already received a prescription from her family doctor for the painful anus. The prescribed ointment was isosorbide dinitrate cream 1%. The patient stopped using this cream due to serious side effects, such as severe headache and flushing. Isosorbide dinitrate is an organic nitrate like nitroglycerin which is different from the inorganic nitrate in the Qinino™️ cream. The patient switched to the Qinino™️ cream, using it three times a day. No side effects reported during this treatment, and the healing of the fissura took place within a few weeks.
56-year-old female

Contact us!

Our network is growing by the day and we are constantly looking for interesting partnerships. Feel free to contact us.

info@noceuticals.com

+31 (0) 642115320

    Privacy Settings
    We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
    Youtube
    Consent to display content from Youtube
    Vimeo
    Consent to display content from Vimeo
    Google Maps
    Consent to display content from Google
    Spotify
    Consent to display content from Spotify
    Sound Cloud
    Consent to display content from Sound