Nicotine (CHEM000712)

Record Information
Version1.0
Creation Date2009-06-01 22:04:25 UTC
Update Date2026-05-14 16:24:32 UTC
Accession NumberCHEM000712
Identification
Common NameNicotine
ClassSmall Molecule
Description
Nicotine is only found in individuals that have used or taken this drug. It is a highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke. [PubChem]Nicotine is a stimulant drug that acts as an agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These are ionotropic receptors composed up of five homomeric or heteromeric subunits. In the brain, nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on dopaminergic neurons in the cortico-limbic pathways. This causes the channel to open and allow conductance of multiple cations including sodium, calcium, and potassium. This leads to depolarization, which activates voltage-gated calcium channels and allows more calcium to enter the axon terminal. Calcium stimulates vesicle trafficking towards the plasma membrane and the release of dopamine into the synapse. Dopamine binding to its receptors is responsible the euphoric and addictive properties of nicotine.Nicotine also binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on the chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla. Binding opens the ion channel allowing influx of sodium, causing depolarization of the cell, which activates voltage-gated calcium channels. Calcium triggers the release of epinephrine from intracellular vesicles into the bloodstream, which causes vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and increased blood sugar.
Contaminant Sources
  • Clean Air Act Chemicals
  • FooDB Chemicals
  • HMDB Contaminants - Urine
  • HPV EPA Chemicals
  • My Exposome Chemicals
  • STOFF IDENT Compounds
  • Suspected Compounds
  • T3DB toxins
  • Tobacco Smoke Compounds
  • ToxCast & Tox21 Chemicals
Contaminant Type
  • Amine
  • Anti-Craving Agent
  • Appetite Depressant
  • Autonomic Agent
  • Central Nervous System Agent
  • Drug
  • Food Toxin
  • Ganglionic Stimulant
  • Household Toxin
  • Human Neurotoxin
  • Insecticide
  • Metabolite
  • Natural Compound
  • Nicotinic Agonist
  • Organic Compound
  • PFAS
  • Pesticide
  • Phytotoxin
Chemical Structure
MOLSDFPDBSMILESInChI
Synonyms
ValueSource
(+-)-3-(1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)pyridineKegg
(+-)-NicotineHMDB
(R,S)-NicotineHMDB
(RS)-NicotineHMDB
NicotinHMDB
NikotinHMDB
L-NicotineHMDB
Nicotine alkaloidHMDB
Chemical FormulaC10H14N2
Average Molecular Mass162.232 g/mol
Monoisotopic Mass162.116 g/mol
CAS Registry Number54-11-5
IUPAC Name3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine
Traditional Namenicotine
SMILESCN1CCCC1C1=CN=CC=C1
InChI IdentifierInChI=1S/C10H14N2/c1-12-7-3-5-10(12)9-4-2-6-11-8-9/h2,4,6,8,10H,3,5,7H2,1H3
InChI KeySNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Chemical Taxonomy
Description Belongs to the class of organic compounds known as pyrrolidinylpyridines. Pyrrolidinylpyridines are compounds containing a pyrrolidinylpyridine ring system, which consists of a pyrrolidine ring linked to a pyridine ring.
KingdomOrganic compounds
Super ClassOrganoheterocyclic compounds
ClassPyridines and derivatives
Sub ClassPyrrolidinylpyridines
Direct ParentPyrrolidinylpyridines
Alternative Parents
Substituents
  • Pyrrolidinylpyridine
  • Alkaloid or derivatives
  • Aralkylamine
  • N-alkylpyrrolidine
  • Heteroaromatic compound
  • Pyrrolidine
  • Tertiary aliphatic amine
  • Tertiary amine
  • Azacycle
  • Organic nitrogen compound
  • Organopnictogen compound
  • Hydrocarbon derivative
  • Organonitrogen compound
  • Amine
  • Aromatic heteromonocyclic compound
Molecular FrameworkAromatic heteromonocyclic compounds
External Descriptors
Biological Properties
StatusDetected and Not Quantified
OriginExogenous
Cellular Locations
  • Cytoplasm
  • Extracellular
  • Membrane
Biofluid LocationsNot Available
Tissue LocationsNot Available
PathwaysNot Available
ApplicationsNot Available
Biological RolesNot Available
Chemical RolesNot Available
Physical Properties
StateLiquid
AppearanceNot Available
Experimental Properties
PropertyValue
Melting Point-79°C
Boiling Point247°C
Solubility1E+006 mg/L
Predicted Properties
PropertyValueSource
Water Solubility93.3 g/LALOGPS
logP0.87ALOGPS
logP1.16ChemAxon
logS-0.24ALOGPS
pKa (Strongest Basic)8.86ChemAxon
Physiological Charge1ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count2ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count0ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area16.13 ŲChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count1ChemAxon
Refractivity49.66 m³·mol⁻¹ChemAxon
Polarizability18.62 ųChemAxon
Number of Rings2ChemAxon
BioavailabilityYesChemAxon
Rule of FiveYesChemAxon
Ghose FilterYesChemAxon
Veber's RuleYesChemAxon
MDDR-like RuleNoChemAxon
Spectra
Spectra
Toxicity Profile
Route of ExposureOral (5) ; Inhalation (5) Absorption of nicotine through the buccal mucosa is relatively slow and the high and rapid rise followed by the decline in nicotine arterial plasma concentrations seen with cigarette smoking are not achieved with the inhaler. About 10% of absorbed nicotine is excreted unchanged in urine.
Mechanism of ToxicityNicotine is a stimulant drug that acts as an agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These are ionotropic receptors composed up of five homomeric or heteromeric subunits. In the brain, nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on dopaminergic neurons in the cortico-limbic pathways. This causes the channel to open and allow conductance of multiple cations including sodium, calcium, and potassium. This leads to depolarization, which activates voltage-gated calcium channels and allows more calcium to enter the axon terminal. Calcium stimulates vesicle trafficking towards the plasma membrane and the release of dopamine into the synapse. Dopamine binding to its receptors is responsible the euphoric and addictive properties of nicotine. Nicotine also binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on the chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla. Binding opens the ion channel allowing influx of sodium, causing depolarization of the cell, which activates voltage-gated calcium channels. Calcium triggers the release of epinephrine from intracellular vesicles into the bloodstream, which causes vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and increased blood sugar.
MetabolismAs nicotine enters the body, it is distributed quickly through the bloodstream and can cross the blood-brain barrier. On average it takes about seven seconds for the substance to reach the brain when inhaled. The half life of nicotine in the body is around two hours. Nicotine is metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450 enzymes (mostly CYP2A6, and also by CYP2B6). A major metabolite is cotinine. Other primary metabolites include nicotine N'-oxide, nornicotine, nicotine isomethonium ion, 2-hydroxynicotine and nicotine glucuronide. (5) Route of Elimination: About 10% of the nicotine absorbed is excreted unchanged in the urine. Half Life: Cotinine has a half life of 15-20 hours, while nicotine has a half life of 1-3 hours
Toxicity ValuesLD50: 140 mg/kg (Dermal, Rat) LD50: 25 mg/kg (Subcutaneous, Rat) LD50: 5900 ug/kg (Intraperitoneal, Mouse) LD50: 2.8 mg/kg (Intravenous, Rat) (13) LD50: 24 mg/kg (Oral, Mouse) (11)
Lethal Dose40 to 60 mg (<1 mg/kg) for an adult human. (12)
Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Uses/SourcesNicotine is highly toxic alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants (Solanaceae). (5) NICOTROL Inhaler is indicated as an aid to smoking cessation for the relief of nicotine withdrawal symptoms. NICOTROL Inhaler therapy is recommended for use as part of a comprehensive behavioral smoking cessation program. It is used for the relief of nicotine withdrawal symptoms and as an aid to smoking cessation.
Minimum Risk LevelNot Available
Health EffectsNicotine has mood-altering effects that may include relaxation, sharpness, calmness, and alertness. It may act as a stimulant or sedative/pain killer, depending on the dosage. (5)
SymptomsSymptoms of overdose include nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, diaphoresis, flushing, dizziness, disturbed hearing and vision, confusion, weakness, palpitations, altered respiration and hypotension.
TreatmentOther supportive measures include diazepam or barbiturates for seizures, atropine for excessive bronchial secretions or diarrhea, respiratory support for respiratory failure, and vigorous fluid support for hypotension and cardiovascular collapse. (8)
Concentrations
Not Available
External Links
DrugBank IDNot Available
HMDB IDHMDB0243542
FooDB IDNot Available
Phenol Explorer IDNot Available
KNApSAcK IDNot Available
BiGG IDNot Available
BioCyc IDNot Available
METLIN IDNot Available
PDB IDNot Available
Wikipedia LinkNicotine
Chemspider ID917
ChEBI ID138000
PubChem Compound ID942
Kegg Compound IDC16150
YMDB IDNot Available
ECMDB IDNot Available
References
Synthesis Reference

Charles G. Chavdarian, Edward B. Sanders, “Process for the preparation of optically active nicotine analogs.” U.S. Patent US4321387, issued September, 1959.

MSDSLink
General References
1. Barupal DK, Fiehn O: Generating the Blood Exposome Database Using a Comprehensive Text Mining and Database Fusion Approach. Environ Health Perspect. 2019 Sep;127(9):97008. doi: 10.1289/EHP4713. Epub 2019 Sep 26.