Maher A.Abdel Rahman M.F.Gad M.Z.Biochemistry DepartmentFaculty of PharmacyOctober University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA)CairoEgypt; Clinical Biochemistry UnitFaculty of Pharmacy & BiotechnologyGerman University in Cairo (GUC)CairoEgypt2020-01-092020-01-092017652598https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60733-7_5PubMed ID 28840553https://t.ly/Lv9ygScopusUntil the beginning of the 1980s, nitric oxide (NO) was just a toxic molecule of a lengthy list of environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke and smog. In fact, NO had a very bad reputation of being destroyer of ozone, suspected carcinogen and precursor of acid rain. However, by the early 1990s it was well recognized by the medical research community. Over the last two decades, the picture has been totally changed. Diverse lines of evidence have converged to show that this sometime poison is a fundamental player in the everyday business of the human body. NO activity was probed in the brain, arteries, immune system, liver, pancreas, uterus, peripheral nerves, lungs, and almost every system in the human body. NO is a major player in the cardiovascular system as it is involved in regulating blood pressure. In the CNS, it is involved in memory formation and the regulation of cerebral blood flow to ensure adequate supply of blood to the brain. Because NO is involved in many pathways, it has a role in several diseases related to modern life as hypertension, coronary heart diseases, Alzheimer�s Disease, stroke and cancer. This chapter focuses on the discussion of the role of NO in neurological diseases and cancer and how can this Janus-faced molecule play a role in the pathology and personalized treatment of these diseases. � American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists 2017.EnglishCancerCNSNeurodegeneration disordersNitric oxide (NO)NO signal transductionNO-targeted therapyNOS expressionacetylsalicylic acidantineoplastic agentcaspasecyclic GMPcyclin dependent kinase 5dynamin related protein 1enzyme inhibitorglyceraldehyde 3 phosphate dehydrogenasegt 094guanosine triphosphataseinducible nitric oxide synthasemyocyte enhancer factor 2nitric oxidenitric oxide donorparkinprotein disulfide isomeraseprotein p53unclassified drugX linked inhibitor of apoptosisnitric oxideAlzheimer diseasebrain blood flowcancer riskcarcinogenesiscardiovascular systemcaveolacell deathcell levelcerebrovascular accidentcognitiondisorders of mitochondrial functionsDNA polymorphismdrug activitydrug targetinggenotoxicityhumanmalignant neoplasmmemorymetastasisnerve cell plasticityneurologic diseaseneuroprotectionneurotoxicitypriority journalprotein misfoldingsignal transductionsynthesistissue leveltumor suppressor genevascularizationanimalblood pressurebrain circulationbrain diseasemetabolismneoplasmphysiologyAnimalsBlood PressureBrain DiseasesCerebrovascular CirculationHumansNeoplasmsNitric OxideBook Chapterhttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60733-7_5PubMed ID 28840553