the present invention employs a scavenging approach whereby overproduced nitric oxide is bound in vivo to a suitable nitric oxide scavenger . the resulting complex renders the nitric oxide harmless , and is eventually excreted in the urine of the host . further in accordance with the present invention , there are provided compositions and formulations useful for carrying out the above - described methods . an exemplary nitric oxide scavenger contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention is a dithiocarbamate - ferrous iron complex . this complex binds to . no , forming a stable , water - soluble dithiocarbamate - iron - no complex having a characteristic three - line spectrum which can readily be detected at ambient temperatures by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy . the present invention relates to methods for reducing in vivo levels of . no as a means of treating subjects afflicted with inflammatory and / or infectious disease . dithiocarbamate - containing nitric oxide scavengers are administered to a host in need of such treatment ; these scavengers interact with in vivo produced . no , forming a stable dithiocarbamate - metal - no complex . the no - containing complex is then filtered through the kidneys , concentrated in the urine , and eventually excreted by the subject , thereby reducing in vivo . no levels .