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Frontiers in Plant Science 2023Cigars are developing rapidly around the world, but the content characteristics of aroma precursors and their contribution to sensory perception have not been fully...
Cigars are developing rapidly around the world, but the content characteristics of aroma precursors and their contribution to sensory perception have not been fully elucidated. In this study, 69 aroma precursors from 61 tobaccos of different parts and origins were systematically determined, and the sensory characteristics of middle leaves from different origins and their correlation with aroma precursors were evaluated. The results showed that tobacco parts mainly affected amino acid content, and contents of nicotine, oxalic acid, malic acid, isovaleric acid, cystine, glutarnine, glycine, isoleucine, glutamicacid, asparticacid, and fructose-proline were significantly changed. Tobacco origins mainly influenced the contents of amino acids, polyacids and high fatty acids, and sugar alcohols, and significantly affected the contents of myosmine, anabasine, nonanoic acid, propanetriol, mannitol, mannose, glucose, alanine, arginine, glutarnine, glutamicacid, histidine, serine, threonine, tryptophan, fructose-alanine, and fructose-asparagine. The flavor characteristics were prominent by wood aroma, and the style and quality characteristics varied greatly among different origins of middle leaves. There were 34, 21, and 22 aroma precursors with high correlations with flavor, style, and quality characteristics. This study provides support for regulating the content and coordination of aroma precursors in different tobacco parts and origins to improve sensory characteristics.
PubMed: 38192690
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1264739 -
Environment International Dec 2020Measurement of population tobacco use via wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) provides objective data to evaluate the efficacy of tobacco control strategies. However,...
Measurement of population tobacco use via wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) provides objective data to evaluate the efficacy of tobacco control strategies. However, current WBE tobacco-use estimates based on nicotine metabolites (cotinine and hydroxycotinine) can be masked by use of non-tobacco nicotine-containing products. To better understand nicotine and tobacco use, we analysed tobacco-specific biomarkers, anabasine and anatabine, as well as nicotine metabolites, cotinine and hydroxycotinine, in wastewater samples collected for 6 weeks per year over 6 years (2012-2017) from an Australian wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 100,000 people. Population-normalised mass loads were used to estimate tobacco and nicotine use trends and were compared with surveys and taxation statistics. Significant annual declines were observed for anabasine, anatabine, cotinine and hydroxycotinine of -3.0%, -2.7%, -2.4%, and -2.1%, respectively. The results corresponded with the annual declining trends reported from surveys (-5%) and taxation statistics (-4%). Significant annual decreases in the ratios of anabasine to cotinine (-1.2%) and anatabine to cotinine (-1.0%) suggested a relative increase in the use of non-tobacco nicotine products at the same time that tobacco use was declining. Monitoring tobacco use with anabasine and anatabine removed influence from nicotine-containing products, showing larger reductions in this Australian city than via nicotine biomarkers, whilst also demonstrating their suitability for monitoring long-term trends.
Topics: Anabasine; Australia; Cotinine; Humans; Nicotine; Nicotiana; Tobacco Use; Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring
PubMed: 32911244
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106088 -
BMC Plant Biology Jun 2020Nicotine is a stimulant and potent parasympathomimetic alkaloid that accounts for 96-98% of alkaloid content. A reduction in the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to...
BACKGROUND
Nicotine is a stimulant and potent parasympathomimetic alkaloid that accounts for 96-98% of alkaloid content. A reduction in the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to achieve a non-addictive level is necessary. We investigated whether replacing tobacco root with eggplant by grafting can restrict nicotine biosynthesis and produce tobacco leaves with ultra-low nicotine content, and analyzed the gene expression differences induced by eggplant grafting.
RESULTS
The nicotine levels of grafted tobacco leaves decreased dramatically. The contents of nornicotine, anabasine, NNN, NNK, NAT, total TSNAs and the nicotine of mainstream cigarette smoke decreased, and the contents of amino acids and the precursors of alkaloids increased in grafted tobacco. Eggplant grafting resulted in the differential expression of 440 genes. LOC107774053 had higher degrees in two PPI networks, which were regulated by LOC107802531 and LOC107828746 in the TF-target network.
CONCLUSIONS
Replacing tobacco root with eggplant by grafting can restrict nicotine biosynthesis and produce tobacco leaves with ultra-low or zero nicotine content. The differential expression of LOC107774053 may be associated with eggplant grafting.
Topics: Nicotine; Smoke; Solanum melongena; Nicotiana
PubMed: 32571218
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-020-02459-4 -
Toxins Jan 2023Nemerteans (also called Nemertines) are a phylum of predominantly marine worms that use toxins to capture prey and to defend themselves against predators....
Nemerteans (also called Nemertines) are a phylum of predominantly marine worms that use toxins to capture prey and to defend themselves against predators. Hoplonemerteans have a proboscis armed with one or more stylets used in prey capture and are taxonomically divided into Order Monostilifera, whose members possess a single large proboscis stylet, and Order Polystilifera, whose members have multiple small stylets. Many monostiliferans contain alkaloidal toxins, including anabaseine, that stimulate and then desensitize nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are present in all animals. These compounds also interact with pyridyl chemoreceptors in crustaceans, reducing predation and larval settlement. Anabaseine has been a lead compound in the design of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists like GTS-21 (also called DMXBA) to treat disorders of cognition such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. These drug candidates also display anti-inflammatory activities of potential medical importance. Most polystiliferans live deep in open oceans and are relatively inaccessible. We fortunately obtained two live specimens of a large benthic polystiliferan, (), from the coast of Spain. MS and NMR analyses of the Ehrlich's reagent derivative allowed identification of anabaseine. A spectrophotometric assay for anabaseine, also based on its reaction with Ehrlich's reagent, revealed high concentrations of anabaseine in the body and proboscis. Apparently, the biosynthetic mechanism for producing anabaseine was acquired early in the evolution of the Hoplonemertea, before the monostiliferan-polystiliferan divergence.
Topics: Animals; Receptors, Nicotinic; Nicotinic Agonists; Anabasine; Toxins, Biological
PubMed: 36668866
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15010046 -
International Journal For Parasitology.... Apr 2017Nematode parasites infect ∼2 billion people world-wide. Infections are treated and prevented by anthelmintic drugs, some of which act on nicotinic acetylcholine...
Nematode parasites infect ∼2 billion people world-wide. Infections are treated and prevented by anthelmintic drugs, some of which act on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). There is an unmet need for novel therapeutic agents because of concerns about the development of resistance. We have selected Asu-ACR-16 from a significant nematode parasite genus, Ascaris suum, as a pharmaceutical target and nicotine as our basic moiety (EC 6.21 ± 0.56 μM, I 82.39 ± 2.52%) to facilitate the development of more effective anthelmintics. We expressed Asu-ACR-16 in Xenopus oocytes and used two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology to determine agonist concentration-current-response relationships and determine the potencies (ECs) of the agonists. Here, we describe the synthesis of a novel agonist, (S)-5-ethynyl-anabasine, and show that it is more potent (EC 0.14 ± 0.01 μM) than other nicotine alkaloids on Asu-ACR-16. Agonists acting on ACR-16 receptors have the potential to circumvent drug resistance to anthelmintics, like levamisole, that do not act on the ACR-16 receptors.
Topics: Anabasine; Animals; Ascaris suum; Drug Discovery; Levamisole; Nicotinic Agonists; Oocytes; Receptors, Nicotinic; Xenopus
PubMed: 28033523
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.12.001 -
Ecology Oct 2019Bee populations have experienced declines in recent years, due in part to increased disease incidence. Multiple factors influence bee-pathogen interactions, including...
Bee populations have experienced declines in recent years, due in part to increased disease incidence. Multiple factors influence bee-pathogen interactions, including nectar and pollen quality and secondary metabolites. However, we lack an understanding of how plant interactions with their environment shape bee diet quality. We examined how plant interactions with the belowground environment alter floral rewards and, in turn, bee-pathogen interactions. Soil-dwelling mycorrhizal fungi are considered plant mutualists, although the outcome of the relationship depends on environmental conditions such as nutrients. In a 2 × 2 factorial design, we asked whether mycorrhizal fungi and nutrients affect concentrations of nectar and pollen alkaloids (anabasine and nicotine) previously shown to reduce infection by the gut pathogen Crithidia in the native bumble bee Bombus impatiens. To ask how plant interactions affect this common bee pathogen, we fed pollen and nectar from our treatment plants, and from a wildflower pollen control with artificial nectar, to bees infected with Crithidia. Mycorrhizal fungi and fertilizer both influenced flowering phenology and floral chemistry. While we found no anabasine or nicotine in nectar, high fertilizer increased anabasine and nicotine in pollen. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) decreased nicotine concentrations, but the reduction due to AMF was stronger in high than low-nutrient conditions. AMF and nutrients also had interactive effects on bee pathogens via changes in nectar and pollen. High fertilizer reduced Crithidia cell counts relative to low fertilizer in AMF plants, but increased Crithidia in non-AMF plants. These results did not correspond with effects of fertilizer and AMF on pollen alkaloid concentrations, suggesting that other components of pollen or nectar were affected by treatments and shaped pathogen counts. Our results indicate that soil biotic and abiotic environment can alter bee-pathogen interactions via changes in floral rewards, and underscore the importance of integrative studies to predict disease dynamics and ecological outcomes.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Crithidia; Mycorrhizae; Nutrients; Parasites; Soil
PubMed: 31234229
DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2801 -
Clinica Chimica Acta; International... Sep 2014Most sample preparation methods characteristically involve intensive and repetitive labor, which is inefficient when preparing large numbers of samples from...
BACKGROUND
Most sample preparation methods characteristically involve intensive and repetitive labor, which is inefficient when preparing large numbers of samples from population-scale studies.
METHODS
This study presents a robotic system designed to meet the sampling requirements for large population-scale studies. Using this robotic system, we developed and validated a method to simultaneously measure urinary anatabine, anabasine, nicotine and seven major nicotine metabolites: 4-Hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butanoic acid, cotinine-N-oxide, nicotine-N-oxide, trans-3'-hydroxycotinine, norcotinine, cotinine and nornicotine. We analyzed robotically prepared samples using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in positive electrospray ionization mode using scheduled multiple reaction monitoring (sMRM) with a total runtime of 8.5 min.
RESULTS
The optimized procedure was able to deliver linear analyte responses over a broad range of concentrations. Responses of urine-based calibrators delivered coefficients of determination (R(2)) of >0.995. Sample preparation recovery was generally higher than 80%. The robotic system was able to prepare four 96-well plate (384 urine samples) per day, and the overall method afforded an accuracy range of 92-115%, and an imprecision of <15.0% on average.
CONCLUSIONS
The validation results demonstrate that the method is accurate, precise, sensitive, robust, and most significantly labor-saving for sample preparation, making it efficient and practical for routine measurements in large population-scale studies such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study.
Topics: Alkaloids; Anabasine; Analytic Sample Preparation Methods; Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cryopreservation; Escherichia coli; Glucuronidase; Helix, Snails; Humans; Hydrolysis; Limit of Detection; Nicotine; Pyridines; Robotics; Smoking; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Temperature; Urinalysis
PubMed: 24968308
DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2014.06.012 -
BMJ Open Jun 2021Continued smoking following a cancer diagnosis has substantial health risks including increased overall and cancer-specific mortality, risk of secondary malignancies,...
INTRODUCTION
Continued smoking following a cancer diagnosis has substantial health risks including increased overall and cancer-specific mortality, risk of secondary malignancies, cancer treatment toxicity and risk of surgical complications. These risks can be mitigated by quitting smoking. The preoperative period represents a prime opportunity in which to administer robust smoking cessation treatment to both improve health and support and improve surgical outcomes. We will conduct a randomised clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of financial incentives delivered contingent on biochemically verified smoking abstinence (contingency management (CM)) in patients with cancer undergoing surgery.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
The study will take place across two study sites, and participants (N=282) who smoke, are diagnosed with or suspected to have any type of operable cancer and have a surgical procedure scheduled in the next 10 days to 5 weeks will be randomised to receive standard care plus Monitoring Only or CM prior to surgery. All patients will receive breath carbon monoxide (CO) tests three times per week, nicotine replacement therapy and counselling. The CM group will also earn payments for self-reported smoking abstinence confirmed by CO breath test ≤4 ppm on an escalating schedule of reinforcement (with a reset if they smoked). Point prevalence abstinence (PPA) outcomes (self-report of 7-day abstinence confirmed by CO≤4 ppm and/or anabasine ≤2 ng/mL) will be assessed on the day of surgery and 6 months after surgery. The effect of CM on 7-day PPA at the time of surgery and 6-month follow-up will be modelled using generalised linear mixed effects models.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
This study has been reviewed and approved by the Medical University of South Carolina Institutional Review Board. We will disseminate our scientific results through traditional research-oriented outlets such as presentations at scientific meetings and publications in peer-reviewed journals.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT04605458.
Topics: Humans; Motivation; Neoplasms; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Tobacco Use Cessation Devices
PubMed: 34187835
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051226 -
Trials Aug 2021Financial incentives are an effective way of helping women to stop smoking during pregnancy. Unfortunately, most women who stop smoking at this time return to smoking...
BACKGROUND
Financial incentives are an effective way of helping women to stop smoking during pregnancy. Unfortunately, most women who stop smoking at this time return to smoking within 12 months of the infant's birth. There is no evidence for interventions that are effective at preventing postpartum smoking relapse. Financial incentives provided after the birth may help women to sustain cessation. This randomised controlled trial will assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of financial incentives to help women who are abstinent from smoking at end-of-pregnancy to avoid return to smoking up to 12 months postpartum.
METHODS
This is a UK-based, multi-centre, three-arm, superiority, parallel group, individually randomised controlled trial, with 1:1:1 allocation. It will compare the effectiveness of two financial incentive interventions with each other (one intervention for up to 3 months postpartum offering up to £120 of incentives (£60 for the participant and £60 for a significant other support); the other for up to 12 months postpartum with up to £300 of incentives (£240 for the participant and £60 for a significant other support) and with a no incentives/usual care control group. Eligible women will be between 34 weeks gestation and 2 weeks postpartum, abstinent from smoking for at least 4 weeks, have an expired carbon monoxide (CO) reading < 4 parts per million (ppm), aged at least 16 years, intend remaining abstinent from smoking after the birth and able to speak and read English. The primary outcome is self-reported, lapse-free, smoking abstinence from the last quit attempt in pregnancy until 12 months postpartum, biochemically validated by expired CO and/or salivary cotinine or anabasine. Outcomes will be analysed by intention-to-treat and regression models used to compare the proportion of abstinent women between the two intervention groups and between each intervention group and the control group. An economic evaluation will assess the cost-effectiveness of offering incentives and a qualitative process evaluation will examine barriers and facilitators to trial retention, effectiveness and implementation.
DISCUSSION
This pragmatic randomised controlled trial will test whether offering financial incentives is effective and cost-effective for helping women to avoid smoking relapse during the 12 months after the birth of their baby.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number 55218215 . Registered retrospectively on 5th June 2019.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant; Motivation; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Retrospective Studies; Smoking; Smoking Cessation
PubMed: 34340694
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05480-6 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2016Nectar and pollen contain diverse phytochemicals that can reduce disease in pollinators. However, prior studies showed variable effects of nectar chemicals on infection,...
Nectar and pollen contain diverse phytochemicals that can reduce disease in pollinators. However, prior studies showed variable effects of nectar chemicals on infection, which could reflect variable phytochemical resistance among parasite strains. Inter-strain variation in resistance could influence evolutionary interactions between plants, pollinators, and pollinator disease, but testing direct effects of phytochemicals on parasites requires elimination of variation between bees. Using cell cultures of the bumble bee parasite Crithidia bombi, we determined (1) growth-inhibiting effects of nine floral phytochemicals and (2) variation in phytochemical resistance among four parasite strains. C. bombi growth was unaffected by naturally occurring concentrations of the known antitrypanosomal phenolics gallic acid, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid. However, C. bombi growth was inhibited by anabasine, eugenol, and thymol. Strains varied >3-fold in phytochemical resistance, suggesting that selection for phytochemical resistance could drive parasite evolution. Inhibitory concentrations of thymol (4.53-22.2 ppm) were similar to concentrations in Thymus vulgaris nectar (mean 5.2 ppm). Exposure of C. bombi to naturally occurring levels of phytochemicals-either within bees or during parasite transmission via flowers-could influence infection in nature. Flowers that produce antiparasitic phytochemicals, including thymol, could potentially reduce infection in Bombus populations, thereby counteracting a possible contributor to pollinator decline.
Topics: Anabasine; Animals; Bees; Cells, Cultured; Crithidia; Eugenol; Host-Parasite Interactions; Phytochemicals; Thymol; Thymus Plant
PubMed: 27883009
DOI: 10.1038/srep37087