Nicotine, a chemical mostly within the plants of the Solanaceae family, is an alkaloid and is available accumulated in the leaves of the plants, though the biosynthesis of the chemical occurs in the roots of the plants. Nicotine is one of the major components of addictive plants like tobacco (0.6%-3.0%) and ‘s the reason behind their addiction in humans because of its psychoactive nature.
The follow are 10 interesting facts about nicotine.
1. Etymology
The name nicotine originates from the scientific name of the tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum. The scientific name of the tobacco plant is itself named the French ambassador to Portugal Jean Nicot de Villemain. Villeman is credited for sending tobacco seeds and plant saplings to Paris in 1560 for its used in medicinal purposes.
2. Extraction
Nicotine was first extracted from the tobacco plant by German physician Dr. Wilhelm Heinrich Posselt and chemist Karl Ludwig Reimann in 1828. Following its discovery Posselt and Reimann labelled it as a poison. Actually nicotine is an antiherbivore chemical, which causes addiction when consumed in smaller amounts (1mg or less) and death if used high amounts (30mg-60mg).
3. Chemistry
Nicotine is an alkaloid with the chemical formula C10H14N2. Its IUPAC name is 3[2,5-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]pyridine. It has a molecular mass of 162.12g/mol. Nicotine is a hygroscopic liquid which is miscible with water as a nitrogenous base. Its density is 1.01g/cm3, melting point -79oC and boiling point 247oC. The nicotine molecule includes a half life of 2 hours and its metabolism is hepatic. Nicotine can be optically active and has two enantiomeric forms.
4. Nicotine being an insecticide
As already said nicotine is an antiherbivore drug which if taken in huge amounts is fatal to life forms. That is why nicotine laden tobacco has been used being an insecticide even before the World War II. But after the WWII its usage drastically lowered as a result of option of cheap synthetic insecticides which tend to be more easily available than tobacco and less harmful to mammals. But in the recent years the hype surrounding organic farming has again increased the interest of the farmers in the use of tobacco as a pesticide being an alternate to chemical pesticides.
5. Nicotine addiction
Our central nervous system has certain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Nicotine binds to many of these and increases the quantity of several neurotransmitters. Among these neurotransmitters dopamine is one such neurotransmitter which is significantly increased during nicotine use and is in charge of the sense of euphoria and relaxation due to the application of tobacco (nicotine) products.
6. Psychoactive ramifications of nicotine
Nicotine is really a psychoactive substance as it is mood altering. It causes both euphoria and relaxation. Within the body nicotine is metabolised in the liver. First following its metabolism nicotine results in the release of glucose from the liver and epinephrine from the adrenal medulla. This sudden release of glucose and epinephrine causes euphoria following the intake of nicotine. www.puffandpouch.com After the initial euphoria nicotine results in relaxation, increased alertness and sharpness by working on different neurotransmitters of the body. Nicotine also offers pain relieving properties.
7. Side effects of nicotine intake
Tough it looks like nicotine is a great substance to improve one’s sharpness, induce calmness and elevate one’s mood you can find more negative aspects of nicotine intake than positive. Among these the most typical side effects of nicotine intake are an elevated threat of hypertension and heart attacks. It really is sad that each cigarette a man smokes reduces his life time by 14 years. Moreover since nicotine has been found to affect the working of Estrogen on hippocampus, hence in the long term nicotine users are inclined to amnesia along with other related diseases.
8. Toxicity
Nicotine is known as to become more toxic than most typical drugs like heroin and cocaine. More harm is performed by nicotine to our body since it is readily absorbed by the bloodstream and reaches the brain through the lungs within 7 seconds of its intake either orally or as nicotine patches.
9. Usage of nicotine in medical science
Though nicotine isn’t a doctor’s companion, it really is yet not his worst foe. Nicotine known because of its pain relieving properties is being researched upon to be utilized as a potential pain killer minus its harmful effects. Nicotine has also been found to lessen preeclampsia, allergic asthma; among others by acting as an anti-inflammatory agent.
10. Nicotine in literature
Nicotine has been personified in popular literature as Nick O’ Teen, a humanoid villainous character in Superman comics which was created as a part of anti-nicotine drive to teach children about the ill-effects of nicotine intake in virtually any form.
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