Chapter 15 - Determination of nicotine and its metabolites in biological fluids: In vitro studies

Abstract

This chapter shows how some nicotine metabolites formed in biological fluids may be determined in vitro. From these studies, the mechanisms and enzymology involved in the metabolic pathways are derived. The rapid development of analytical techniques as applied to nicotine and related tobacco alkaloids has allowed the detection, characterization, and quantitation of most of the intermediate metabolites involved in nicotine biodegradation. Most of the processes can now be carried out in vitro and the enzymology of the processes delineated.