Nicorandil is a vasodilatory drug used to treat angina.
Nicorandil stimulates guanylate cyclase to increase formation of cyclic GMP (cGMP).cGMP activates protein kinase G (PKG) which phosphorylates and inhibits GTPase RhoA and decreases Rho-kinase activity. Reduced Rho-kinase activity permits an increase in myosin phosphatase activity, decreasing the calcium sensitivity of the smooth muscle.