There is provided amino acid ester compounds comprising at least one nitric oxide releasing group, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and compositions thereof. These compounds involve an amino acid side-chain or an amino acid derivative thereof and a nitric oxide releasing group as depicted in the following structures:wherein R1 is either an ethyl or an amino acid side-chain group or an amino acid derivative thereof and R2 is an amino acid side-chain group or an amino acid derivative thereof and n is an integer from 1 to 10.