Embedded Files
Toxicity
Toxicity
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, abnormal heart rhythms, addiction, ataxia, bladder cancer, bradycardia, cervical cancer, chronic bronchitis, coma, coronary heart disease, diarrhea, dizziness, emphysema, esophageal cancer, headache, hyperpnea, hypertension, hypotension, increased salivation, kidney cancer, laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, muscle twitching, nausea, pale skin colour, pancreatic cancer, respiratory difficulties, seizures, shock, stomach cancer, stroke, sweating, tachycardia, tremors, ulcers, vomiting, weakness.
Duration of Symptoms: 18 - 24 hours.
Rate of Poison: 15 minutes - 1 hour
Causes Death: Yes, may be within one hour. (1 in 5 deaths)
Treatment: Activated charcoal, atropine (slow heart rate), benzodiazepines (seizures), gastrointestinal decontamination, intravenous fluids (low blood pressure), ventilator.
This plant here is responsible for the extraction of nicotine, one of the key ingredients in cigarettes that makes it so addictive.
Photo: Judgefloro - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Main Toxin
Main Toxin
Chemical structure of nicotine (created via ChemDraw).
Nicotine
Nicotine
Nicotine is a toxin that interacts with the central nervous system, acting as both a stimulant and a depressant. Nicotine releases adrenaline in the brain, stimulating the nervous system inducing pleasure, eventually leading to addiction. Dopamine concentration is increased due to the stimulation by nicotine, which is also responsible for the increased dependency of nicotine. Nornicotine is a metabolite of nicotine, which means that it helps nicotine to become metabolized in the system. It helps with the breakdown of nicotine.
Level of Toxin: 95% content
64% in leaves, 18% in stem, 13% in root, 5% in flowers.
Impacting Dosage: 50 - 60 mg
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
Anabasine
Anabasine
Anabasine is a pyridine alkaloid and a pyridine alkaloid that acts as an agonist for the acetylcholine receptor. This chemical is closely related to nicotine. The components consists of toxic fumes, carbon monoxides and carbon dioxides, and nitrogen oxides. Acetylcholine is responsible for muscle relaxation; anabasin binds to an active site, inhibiting the acetylcholineesterase activity, which results in continuous muscle contractions. This is a components known to be in insecticides.
Level of Toxin: 73 μg/g
Impacting Dosage: 50 - 60 mg
Anatabine
Anatabine
Anatabine is a bipyridine alkaloid that can mimic nicotine. Anatabine may have anti-inflammatory properties. It prevents the release of cytokine by inhibiting STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3). Like nicotine, anatabine does have addictive properties as well.
Level of Toxin: 7 μg/g
Impacting Dosage: 50 - 60 mg
Glucosides
Glucosides
Glucosides are forms of glycosides. These glycosides are components of glucose. There are twelve glycosides found in tobacco leaves.
Level of Toxin: Unknown
Impacting Dosage: 50 - 60 mg
Propionic Acid
Propionic Acid
When propionic acid comes in contact with skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, it can produce a burning sensation, which is why the lungs and throat may have a burning sensation when inhaling cigarette smoke.
Level of Toxin: 0.15 - 7.4 mg/kg
Impacting Dosage: 50 - 60 mg
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: All parts.
Contact Hazard: Yes, can potentially kill on contact.
Animals Affected: Cats, dogs.
Notes: Possibly fatal if eaten. Toxins can absorb into the skin.
Medicinal Value
Medicinal Value
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Whole Plant
Properties: Analgesic, anesthetic, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antiglaucomic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antistress, discutient, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, irritant, laxative, narcotic, relaxant, sedative, silagogue.
Components: Anatabine, Nicotine
Antidote: Snakebites (Ecuador)
Preparation: Leaves; dried, fresh, tea, wet. Roots; fresh. Poultice, tincture, salves, smoke, snuff patches.
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Treatments
Treatments
Abscesses
Bites (reptile and insects): Administered externally.
Catarrh: Powdered leaves rubbed inside the mouth.
Colds: Powdered leaves rubbed inside the mouth.
Constipation: Administered by rectum.
Disease
Earache: Blowing smoke into the ear.
Fatigue
Fever: Administered by mouth.
Gout: Administered externally.
Headaches: Breathing in the fresh green leaves causes relief.
Hemorrhoidal Bleeding: Administered by rectum.
Hernia: Administered by mouth.
Hysteria: Administered externally.
Inveterate Polyps
Laryngeal Spasm: Administered externally.
Malaria: Administered by mouth.
Nasal Polyps: Administered by inhalation.
Neck: Root used to cure disease of glands in neck, placed on crushed tobacco plant mixed with salt.
Nervousness: European cultivators claimed that tobacco treated nervousness in the 1500s.
Neuralgia: Administered externally.
Pain: Powdered leaves applied to wounds and burns.
Respiratory: Administered externally as a stimulant.
Ringworm: Administered externally.
Scabies: Nicotine salicylate as a salve with boiled tobacco leaf.
Sores
Tetanus: Administered externally.
Ulcers: Administered externally.
Wounds: Administered externally.
Location
Location
Brazil: Betum was used to treat ailments such as abscesses, fistulas, inveterate polyps, and sores.
Cuba: A torched that burned with tobacco was used to help eliminate diseases and fatigue. It was seen as an anaesthetic and a panacea.
Maya (Mexico): Entire plant is viewed as medicinal. Often used in other combination with other herbs.
Mexico: Leaves were used to treat pain, headaches, colds, and catarrh. Root used to treat disease on glands of neck. May have been used as an antidiarrheal, narcotic, and emollient.
Claimed Treatments
Claimed Treatments
Asthma: Root
Bronchitis: Dried leaves
Dermal Issues: Leaves
Dizziness: Leaves
Fainting: Leaves
Hoarsness: Seeds
Nausea: Leaves
Pain from Stings: Leaves
Parasites: Dried leaves with other plants.
Pneumonia: Dried leaves
Rheumatism: Leaves for rheumatic swelling; Seeds
Snakebites: Leaves
Wounds: Fresh leaves used on infected wounds.
Location
Location
Columbia: Leaves used over infected wounds
Ecuador: Leave juice to treat snakebites.
Fiji: Fresh roots used to treat asthma, seeds used to treat rheumatism and hoarseness.
Haiti: Dried leaves to prevent bronchitis and pneumonia.
India: Dried leaves with other plants used against parasites.
Edibility
Edibility
Parts of Plant: Leaves
Nutrients:
Carbohydrates: Amino acids
Protein
Taste: Spicy
WARNING: May cause severe addiction.
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
Not known
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
Beverages: Leaves added.
Cereal Grains: Leaves added.
Chocolate: In London, the leaves would be added to the chocolate bars.
Drinks: Leaves added.
Oil: Whole plant used to make oil.
Soups: Leaves added.
Vegetables: Leaves added.
General Facts
General Facts
Plant Facts
Plant Facts
Illustration of Tobacco by D. A. Wilkerson
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Nicotiana
Other Names: Betum, Cogioba, Cohobba, Cultivated Tobacco, Henbane of Peru, Petum, Picietl, Quauhyetl, Yietl.
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Bloom Colours: Yellowish, Whitish-Pink, Violet
Bloom Time: July - September
Type: Perennial/Annual
Height: 3 - 5 feet.
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Habitat: Dry valleys, flat fields, forests, mountains, plains, rocky areas, savannas, tropical lands, volcanoes, wetlands.
Origin: American subtropics, South America
States: All states
Provinces: ON, NS
Related Species
Related Species
Nicotiana acuminata
(Mayflower Tobacco)
Photo: Anthony Valois - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Nicotiana attenuata
(Coyote Tobacco)
Photo: USDI BLM. - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Nicotiana clevelandii
(Clevland's Tobacco)
Photo: Anthony Valois - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Nicotiana forgetiana
(Tobacco)
Photo: M. Smith - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Nicotiana glauca
(Tree Tobacco)
Photo: Stickpen - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Nicotiana langsdorffii (Langsdorff's Tobacco)
Photo: Magnus Manske - Wikimedia Commons
License: CCSA 3.0
Nicotiana noctiflora
(Night-Flowering Tobacco Plant)
Photo: W.J.Hooker - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Nicotiana obtusifolia
(Desert Tobacco)
Photo: Sue in az - Wikimedia Commons
Nicotiana quadrivalvis
(Indian Tobacco)
Photo: Anthony Valois - Wikimedia Commons
Nicotiana rustica
(Wild Tobacco)
Photo: D. A. Wilkerson
Nicotiana sylvestris
(Woodland Tobacco)
Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Nicotiana tomentosa
(Woolly Ornamental Tobacco)
Photo: M. Smith - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Other Species
Other Species
Nicotiana acaulis
Nicotiana arentsii
Nicotiana benthaminana
Nicotiana cordifolia
Nicotiana kawakamii
Nicotiana otophora
Nicotiana plumbaginifolia
Nicotiana velutina
Nicotiana africana
Nicotiana attenata
Nicotiana bonariensis
Nicotiana excelsior
Nicotiana linearis
Nicotiana paa
Nicotiana raimondii
Nicotiana wigandioides
Nicotiana ameghinoi
Nicotiana azambujae
Nicotiana burbidgeae
Nicotiana gossei
Nicotiana longibracteata
Nicotiana palmeri
Nicotiana setchellii
Nicotiana amplexicaulis
Nicotiana benavidesii
Nicotiana cavicola
Nicotiana insecticida
Nicotiana miersii
Nicotiana pauciflora
Nicotiana tomentosiformis
Family Connection
Family Connection
Sources
Sources
Toxicity Section
Toxicity Section
American Chemical Society. (2008). Anabasine. From https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/a/anabasine.html
Charlton A. (2004). Medicinal uses of tobacco in history. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 97(6), 292–296. https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.97.6.292
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Nicotine Poisoning. From https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21582-nicotine-poisoning
Dodd-Butera, T., & Broderick, M. (2005). Plants, Poisonous. Encyclopedia of Toxicology. 2nd ed. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/nicotiana-tabacum
Hauptmann, N., & Shih, J. C. (2001). 2-Naphthylamine, a compound found in cigarette smoke, decreases both monoamine oxidase A and B catalytic activity. Life sciences, 68(11), 1231–1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0024-3205(00)01022-5
Higa, J. (1990). Nicotiana tabacum L. IPCS InChem. From https://inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/nicotab.htm#SubSectionTitle:3.1.2%20Habitat
Jason, D. (2017). Some Useful Wild Plants: A Foraging Guide to Food and Medicine from Nature. Harbour Publishing. (pp. 154)
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L. (n.d.). Nicotiana tabacum - L. Plants For A Future. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Nicotiana+tabacum
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp. 331-333)
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2022). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 2181, Anabasine. From https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Anabasine.
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2022). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 11388, Anatabine. Retrieved July 30, 2022 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Anatabine.
NC State Extension (n.d.). Nicotiana tabacum. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. From https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nicotiana-tabacum/
OchsnerHealth. (n.d.). Nicotine and Tobacco Products. From https://www.ochsner.org/health-resources/tobacco-free-living-the-legacy/tobacco-free-resources/nicotine-and-tobacco-products
Ohshima, H., Nair, J., Bourgade, M. C., Friesen, M., Garren, L., & Bartsch, H. (1985). Identification and occurrence of two new N-nitrosamino acids in tobacco products: 3-(N-nitroso-N-methylamino)propionic acid and 4-(N-nitroso-N-methylamino)butyric acid. Cancer letters, 26(2), 153–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3835(85)90021-7
Pang, T., Yuan, Z., Dai, Y., Wang, C., Yang, J., Peng, L., & Xu, G. (2007). Identification and determination of glycosides in tobacco leaves by liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of separation science, 30(3), 289–296. https://doi.org/10.1002/jssc.200600236
Petruzello, M. (n.d.). 7 of the World’s Deadliest Plants. Encyclopedia Britannica. From https://www.britannica.com/list/7-of-the-worlds-deadliest-plants
ScienceDirect. (2005). Propionic Acid. Encyclopedia of Toxicology. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/propionic-acid
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 183-185)
Stuart, A. G. (n.d.). Tobacco. UTEP Herbal Safety. From https://www.utep.edu/herbal-safety/herbal-facts/herbal%20facts%20sheet/tobacco.html
T3DB. (2009). Anabasine (T3D3108). From http://www.t3db.ca/toxins/T3D3108
Tiwari, R. K., Sharma, V., Pandey, R. K., & Shukla, S. S. (2020). Nicotine Addiction: Neurobiology and Mechanism. Journal of pharmacopuncture, 23(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2020.23.001
von Weymarn, L. B., Thomson, N. M., Donny, E. C., Hatsukami, D. K., & Murphy, S. E. (2016). Quantitation of the Minor Tobacco Alkaloids Nornicotine, Anatabine, and Anabasine in Smokers' Urine by High Throughput Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Chemical research in toxicology, 29(3), 390–397. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.5b00521
Medicinal Value Section
Medicinal Value Section
Agyare, C.,...Osafo, N. (2013). Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of African Medicinal Plants. Medicinal Plant Research in Africa. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/nicotiana-tabacum
Charlton A. (2004). Medicinal uses of tobacco in history. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 97(6), 292–296. https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.97.6.292
L. (n.d.) Nicotiana tabacum - L. Plants For A Future. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Nicotiana+tabacum
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp. 331-333)
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 183-185)
Stuart, A. G. (n.d.). Tobacco. UTEP Herbal Safety. From https://www.utep.edu/herbal-safety/herbal-facts/herbal%20facts%20sheet/tobacco.html
Grieve, M. (n.d.) Tobacco. Botanical.com. From https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/t/tobacc21.html
Edibility Section (Insufficient Data)
Edibility Section (Insufficient Data)
ACSH Staff. (1992). Food From Tobacco A Well Kept Secret. American Council On Science And Health. From https://www.acsh.org/news/1992/01/01/food-from-tobacco-a-well-kept-secret
L. (n.d.) Nicotiana tabacum - L. Plants For A Future. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Nicotiana+tabacum
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp. 331-333)
Specialty Produce. (n.d.). Tobacco Leaves. From https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Tobacco_Leaves_14319.php
General Facts Section
General Facts Section
CABI. (n.d.). Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). From https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/36326
Charlton A. (2004). Medicinal uses of tobacco in history. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 97(6), 292–296. https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.97.6.292
Jason, D. (2017). Some Useful Wild Plants: A Foraging Guide to Food and Medicine from Nature. Harbour Publishing. (pp. 154)
L. (n.d.) Nicotiana tabacum - L. Plants For A Future. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Nicotiana+tabacum
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp. 331-333)
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2022). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 11388, Anatabine. Retrieved July 30, 2022 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Anatabine.
Natural Medicinal Herbs. (n.d.). Tobacco. From http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/n/nicotiana-tabacum=tobacco.php
NC State Extension (n.d.). Nicotiana tabacum. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. From https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nicotiana-tabacum/
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 183-185)
Date of page creation: August 2, 2022
Updated: May 30, 2023
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