By Moshood Abeeb

Imagine a powerful chemical that could obliterate mountains, yet be gentle enough to soothe a failing heart. This isn't fiction; it's the real-life story of nitroglycerin, a compound that birthed both dynamite and the Nobel Prize.

Discovered in 1847 by Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero, nitroglycerin was so volatile he warned others to avoid it. Its explosive force, however, captivated Alfred Nobel. He stabilized it by combining it with silica, transforming it into dynamite. While dynamite became an agent of destruction and warfare, Alfred Nobel amassed a fortune from its sales.

Around the same time, doctors observed a peculiar phenomenon: workers in nitroglycerin factories suffered severe headaches during the week but felt better on weekends. This led to the discovery of nitroglycerin's potent effect on the cardiovascular system, as it dilates blood vessels and improves circulation. In 1879, British physician Dr. William Murrell introduced nitroglycerin as a treatment for angina pectoris, chest pain caused by poor blood flow to the heart. Patients reported dramatic relief after taking the medication sublingually. Later, it also became a treatment for heart attack and heart failure.

In 1888, Alfred Nobel was shocked to read his own obituary, which mistakenly reported his death instead of his brother Ludvig Nobel. The French newspaper described him as a "merchant of death" due to his invention of dynamite and criticized him for accumulating wealth from the agony of people.

Ironically, Alfred Nobel himself was later prescribed nitroglycerin to treat his own heart condition. He wrote bitterly in a letter, "Isn't it the irony of fate that I have been prescribed nitroglycerin... to be taken internally! They call it Trinitrin to not scare the chemist and the public."

Due to the devastation caused by his invention, Alfred Nobel drafted a new will in 1895. He dedicated the majority of his fortune to establish the Nobel Prizes, honoring those who have contributed tremendously to physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace. The Nobel Prizes became a symbol of excellence and innovation, a testament to how the same man who harnessed the power of destruction created the world’s most famous awards for human progress.

Nitroglycerin is more than a medicine; it's a story of transformation: from warfare to wellness, from a death-dealer to a heart-healer. It reminds us that the line between poison and cure is often just a matter of dose, context, and discovery – a principle that lies at the very heart of pharmacy.



Moshood Abeeb is a Pharmacy student at Bayero University Kano with interests in public health research, data analysis, and Tobacco Harm Reduction. He is passionate about improving healthcare access in underserved communities.

He's a member of the editorial board of Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students, Bayero University Kano Chapter.