Cotinine is an alkaloid found in tobacco and is also the predominant metabolite of nicotine, typically used as a biomarker for exposure to tobacco smoke. Cotinine is currently being studied as a treatment for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sc + some more technical info. Chemically cotinine (C10H12N2O, molar mass 176.22 g mol) is produced in the liver primarily via CYP2A6 mediated oxidation of nicotine and subsequent conversion to the stable ketone cotinine; it has a substantially longer elimination half life than nicotine, typically on the order of 16 to 20 hours in adults, which makes it well suited for exposure assessment in blood, saliva and urine. Cotinine displays only weak activity at neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors relative to nicotine, is moderately water soluble, readily crosses the blood brain barrier, and is quantified in research and clinical laboratories using validated methods such as liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry or gas chromatography mass spectrometry with low ng mL limits of quantification.
Parent: Cotinine
High purity analytical or pharmaceutical grade cotinine is generally supplied at purities of 98 percent or greater with individual related impurities typically under 0.5 percent and total related substances commonly controlled to below 2 percent, depending on supplier specification and certified reference material documentation. Related alkaloids and metabolites that can appear as impurities or coextractives in tobacco related matrices include nicotine, nornicotine, anabasine, anatabine, myosmine, nicotelline, trans 3 hydroxycotinine and cotinine N oxide; in plant material the minor tobacco alkaloids often represent from tenths of a percent up to a few percent of total alkaloid content, while in biological samples metabolite ratios vary by individual metabolism so that compounds such as trans 3 hydroxycotinine can appear at comparable molar levels to cotinine.
Cotinine is mainly a metabolic indicator of nicotine intake rather than a primary active agent; it results from nicotine metabolism, circulates longer than nicotine, and is used to document exposure. Pharmacologically it is a weak modulator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and has been investigated for potential effects on cognition, mood and inflammatory pathways, but it does not produce the acute stimulant and addictive effects typical of nicotine.
Cotinine is an alkaloid and the principal metabolite of nicotine; it is not classified as a classical therapeutic drug class but may be described as a nicotine metabolite or nicotinic alkaloid in chemical and toxicological contexts.
Cotinine is formed from nicotine by human and mammalian metabolism and is present in tobacco plants and tobacco smoke; it is not typically produced outside the context of nicotine exposure, so its presence generally indicates prior nicotine intake or contact with tobacco products.
Yes, when e liquid contains nicotine, vaping will lead to systemic nicotine exposure and subsequent formation of cotinine, which can be detected in blood, saliva or urine. Nicotine free vaping fluids should not produce cotinine unless there is contamination or undisclosed nicotine content, and detection windows depend on use pattern and analytical sensitivity, with cotinine commonly measurable for several days after intermittent use and for longer periods in heavy or chronic users.
