Dietary nitrate which mainly comes from green leafy vegetables, is absorbed into blood circulation by the intestinal mucosa. Parotid gland is an important organ for transporting nitrate. Nitrate in blood is taken up by sialin, a nitrate transporter and concentrated in salivary glands and secreted into saliva. The salivary nitrate is partially reduced to nitrite and nitric oxide by oral bacteria, and then salivary nitrate and nitrite return into blood circulation with swallowing and intestinal mucosal absorption. As a non-classic source of nitric oxide, nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway plays an important role on physiological and pathological conditions, especially on the condition of hypoxia and ischemia. These functions include body protection, such as gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, anti-inflammation, regulation of glucose/lipid metabolism, improvement of sport ability, maintaining gut microbiome hemostasis, and alleviating senility. The traditional view on nitrate as a harmful substance to human body has been proved to be lack of scientific evidence. With further research and application, as a pioneer from the mouth to the whole body, nitrate is expected to play a crucial part in human health, and prevention and treatment of systemic diseases.
绿叶蔬菜是饮食硝酸盐的主要来源，饮食硝酸盐由肠黏膜吸收入血。腮腺是机体转运硝酸盐的重要器官，唾液腺通过唾液腺浆液性细胞膜上硝酸盐转运蛋白（sialin）主动摄取血液中的硝酸盐并分泌至唾液。唾液硝酸盐在口腔细菌作用下部分还原为亚硝酸盐及一氧化氮，唾液硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐随吞咽及肠黏膜吸收再次进入循环。硝酸盐—亚硝酸盐—一氧化氮途径是体内一氧化氮非经典来源途径，其在生理和病理状态下发挥重要作用，尤其是在低氧和缺血状态下更明显。这些作用包括机体保护（如胃肠、心血管保护）、抗炎、调节糖脂代谢、提高运动能力、维持肠道菌群平衡及延缓衰老等。以往认为硝酸盐对机体有害的观点被证明缺乏科学依据。随着研究和应用的不断深入，硝酸盐作为从口腔走向全身的使者有望在全身健康及疾病防治中发挥重要作用。.
Keywords: Nitrates; Nitric oxide; Nitrites; Salivary glands; Sialin.