Nitric oxide (NO) production is essential for normal human health and physiology. NO controls and regulates blood pressure, nervous and immune function along with numerous other fundamental physiological processes. Loss of NO production is recognized as one of the earliest events in the onset and progression of many if not all chronic diseases. Development of FDA approved NO based therapeutics has been slow and largely unsuccessful. Historically, natural product chemistry has been a primary strategy for development of new drug compounds. Through plant based chemistry and bacterial metabolism, NO can be produced and harnessed for restoration of NO based signaling in humans. This strategy may provide opportunity for development of safe and effective NO based therapies.