Abstract <p>Specialized metabolites/secondary metabolies such phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, and sulphur-containing compounds are abundant in medicinal plants and have priceless therapeutic qualities. Plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures are used to produce valuable specialized metabolites that are used as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and natural coloring agents. Various strategies are utilized for the production of specialized compounds in vitro and the elicitation of cultures using biotic and abiotic elicitors is of novel technology. In recent years, nitric oxide (NO) donors such as sodium nitroprusside, <i>S</i>-introso-N-acetylpenicillamine, <i>S</i>-nirtosoglutathone, and diethylamine NONOate have been utilized for eliciting the plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures. Several reports exist in the literature NO works as a potent elicitor in enhancing the accumulation of specialized metabolites in cell and organ cultures. The objective of the current study was to evaluate NO as an elicitor and summarize the advantages and limitations of NO for the production of specialized metabolites in vitro. The mechanism of NO-induced elicitation has been exemplified using several successful examples.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>