Tobacco smoke, alkaloid detection

Pilotti et al. carried out studies on the identification of tobacco alkaloids, their mammalian metabolites and related compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using packed columns (SE-30, SE-52 and Carbowax 20 M + KOH) and capillary columns (33 m - Emulphor 0 and 9.6 m - 0V-101). Various pyridine compounds, either identified or implied as intermediates in the manmalian metabolism of nicotine present in tobacco or tobacco smoke, were studied by GC-MS. Preliminary GC-MS experiments on the determination of nicotine using capillary columns in combination with multiple ion detection (MID) employing deuterated nicotine as internal standard were reported. The gas chromatographic data of the compounds investigated... 

Ogden, M.W. and PR. Nelson Detection of alkaloids in environmental tobacco smoke in Modem methods of plant analysis, Vol. 15. Alkaloids, edited by H.E. Linskens and J.E. Jackson, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany (1994) pp. 163-189. 

Wenusch, A. and R. SchoUer Tiber den Nachweis von Nebenalkaloiden im Tabak und Tabakrauch. Teil I [The detection of minor alkaloids in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Part I] Fachhche Mitt. Osterr. Tabakregie 1935(1) 11. Wenusch, A. and R. SchoUer Tiber den Nachweis von Nebenalkaloiden im Tabak und Tabakrauch. TeU II [The detection of minor alkaloids in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Part n] Fachhche Mitt. Osterr. Tabakregie 1935(3) 2-7. Wenusch, A. and R. Scholler Carbon monoxide from tobacco smoke causes no rise in blood pressure Med. Klin. 31 (1935)554. 

Nicotine is by far the most commonly used indicator of ETS in indoor air. Many authors state erroneously that nicotine is unique to tobacco however, such is not the case. Although present in a surprisingly large number of species other than Nicotiana (Leete 1983), and also detected at trace levels in a variety of common foods (Castro and Monji 1986 Sheen 1988 Davis et al. 1991), the presence of nicotine in indoor air should be uniquely attributable to tobacco smoke. The same should also hold true for the related alkaloids and the more unique pyrolysates (e.g., myosmine and 3 ethenylpyridine). 

The major alkaloids in the vapor phase of environmental tobacco smoke are discussed and detailed procedures for their determination are outlined. Time-integrated sampling involves concentrating the alkaloids from the air matrix by trapping on either XAD-4 sorbent resin or on bisulfate-treated glass fiber filters with extraction and analysis by gas chromatography and N-selective detection. These methods are widely used in studying the impact of ETS on indoor air quality in real-life situations. 

Nicotine is an alkaloid derived from the tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum. It is a liquid at room temperature and acquires a brown appearance with a characteristic odor when exposed to air. It is widely available in tobacco products and in certain pesticides. Tobacco products can contain 0.2-5 percent nicotine and if ingested, particularly by children, can be very toxic. Only a small amount of nicotine found in tobacco is volatilized and absorbed during smoking. However, the nicotine that is absorbed is done so quite rapidly through the alveoli and is detectable in the brain only 8 seconds after the first inhalation. Nicotine is believed to be the major component of tobacco associated with its addictive potential, or its abuse liability. 

COtinine [inn] is an alkaloid from leaf tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and is also detected in Duboisia hopwoodii (Solanaceae). It is a nicotine metabolite, used as a biomarker for exposure to cigarette smoke. It shows ANTIDEPRESSANT and other behavioural effects in animals, cothromboplastin factorVII. 

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