lobeline

Lobeline is a crystalline alkaloid derived from Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata). It is primarily used as a respiratory stimulant and as a smoking deterrent. The genus Lobelia, from which lobeline is obtained, comprises over 400 species of flowering plants found in temperate and warmer regions worldwide. While some Lobelia species are cultivated for their ornamental flowers, others, like Indian tobacco, have medicinal uses but are also considered poisonous due to their lobeline content. Ingesting even small amounts of Indian tobacco can lead to severe poisoning, including vomiting, nausea, coma, or convulsions.12