Nicotine is a natural alkaloid obtained from the dried leaves and stems of the nightshade family of pants, such as Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica, where it occurs in concentrations of 0.5-8%. Cigarette tobacco varies in its nicotine content, but common blends contain 15-25 mg per cigarette, with a current trend towards lower levels. Nicotine is highly addictive substance, it exhibits a stimulant effect when adsorbed at 2 mg. Administration of higher doses could be harmful. Action of nicotine is mediated by nicotinic cholinergic receptors. Nicotine binds to the interface between two subunits of the receptors, opens the channel and allows the entry of sodium or calcium. The principal mediator of nicotine dependence is α4β2 nicotine receptor.

Rivanicline (also known as RJR-2403 or TC-2403) is a partial neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist. This compound binds primarily to the α4β2 receptor subtype. Rivanicline was originally developed for Alzheimer’s disease and shows pronounced anti-amnesic and increased recognition memory in rats. Because rivanicline also inhibits Interleukin-8 production, it has been further developed as a potential anti-inflammatory treatment for ulcerative colitis (in which nicotine is of therapeutic value but has adverse events). Rivanicline effectively inhibited TNF- and LPS-induced IL-8 production in different cell types, without toxic effects. Rivanicline was also evaluated as a potential compound for the development of nicotinic therapeutics to treat neurological diseases in cases of compromised cholinergic neurotransmission.

Myosmine (3-(1-pyrrolin-2-yl)pyridine) is a minor tobacco alkaloid widely occurring in food products of plant and animal origin. Myosmine expresses significant genotoxic effects in human target cells of carcinogenesis. After nitrosation and/or peroxidation, myosmine gives rise to reactive pyridyloxobutylating species which are capable of forming pyridyloxobutylated DNA adducts.