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nicotine
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Rows of green Nicotiana tabacum tobacco plants growing in soil, showing broad, bright leaves and healthy foliage.
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Rows of green Nicotiana tabacum tobacco plants growing in soil, showing broad, bright leaves and healthy foliage.
Tobacco A field of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

nicotine

chemical compound
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nicotine, naturally occurring alkaloid produced by tobacco plants and related species. Nicotine is the primary psychoactive and addictive substance in tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and many electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). By acting on the nervous system, nicotine can increase alertness and attention while also producing dependence that makes quitting tobacco difficult. Both the tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum) and the compound are named for Jean Nicot, a French ambassador to Portugal, who sent tobacco...

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