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Reducing the nicotine content of tobacco by grafting with eggplant.

ABSTRACT: 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.

SUBMITTER: Ren M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7310140 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Reducing the nicotine content of tobacco by grafting with eggplant.

Ren Mengjuan M Zhang Mengyue M Yang Huijuan H Shi Hongzhi H

BMC plant biology 20200622 1

<h4>Background</h4>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.<h4>Results</h4>The nicotine l ...[more]

PMID: 32571218

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Project description:IntroductionMany people incorrectly think that very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes are less carcinogenic than current cigarettes. This risk misperception by people who smoke could reduce motivation to quit under a nicotine reduction policy. We qualitatively examined perspectives on campaign messages designed to reduce misperceptions.Aims and methodsAdults who smoke from North Carolina participated in online interviews. After being introduced to the idea of a VLNC policy, participants were shown VLNC messages and asked about their perceptions on the clarity, understandability, persuasiveness, and meaning of the messages. We conducted a thematic content analysis of the transcripts.ResultsThirty adults who smoke cigarettes participated (15 females, 13 males, 2 nonbinary) with a mean age of 43 years. Central themes that emerged were: (1) Confusion about the proposed VLNC cigarette policy affected how messages were interpreted; (2) Messages that promote self-efficacy for quitting rather than guilt or fear were better received; and (3) Direct and succinct messages were seen as more able to grab attention and inform people who smoke. Some participant concerns focused on whether VLNC cigarettes would relieve their nicotine cravings and whether they would need to smoke more VLNC cigarettes to feel satisfied.ConclusionCampaign messages to educate the public about the harmful effects of smoking VLNC cigarettes may be more effective if people who smoke are informed about the policy's rationale to understand why nicotine is removed rather than the other harmful chemicals. Messages should also acknowledge the difficulty of quitting and be short and direct to capture attention.ImplicationsAdults who smoke have some confusion about nicotine reduction in cigarettes and this affects how they perceive potential communication campaign messages about the risk of smoking VLNC cigarettes. In our qualitative research, we found that adults who smoke prefer messages about VLNC cigarettes that acknowledge the challenge of quitting and that are direct and succinct. With further development, campaign messages may be able to reduce misperceptions about VLNC cigarettes and maximize the public health benefit of a nicotine reduction policy.

Project description:IntroductionAs the science base around the potential benefits of a reduced-nicotine standard for cigarettes grows, information on the potential effects on adolescent smokers is a high priority. The aim of this randomized trial was to test the influence of 3-week exposure to reduced nicotine cigarettes in a sample of adolescent daily smokers.Aims and methodsIn this double-blind, two-arm, randomized controlled trial (NCT0258731), following a 1-week baseline, adolescent daily smokers not currently intending to quit (ages 15-19 years, n = 66 randomized) were urn randomized to use either very low nicotine content (VLNC; 0.4 mg/g; n = 33) or normal nicotine content (NNC, 15.8 mg/g; n = 33) research cigarettes for 3 weeks. Participants attended five study sessions at our clinical laboratory. The primary outcome was average total cigarettes smoked per day (CPD; including both study and non-study cigarettes) at week 3.ResultsStepwise regression results demonstrated that compared with NNC cigarettes (n = 31), assignment to VLNC cigarettes (n = 29), was associated with 2.4 fewer CPD on average than NNC assignment (p < .05) week 3 when controlling for covariates (p < .01, Cohen's d = 0.52 n = 60 completed all procedures). VLNC cigarettes were also associated with lower levels of craving reduction than NNC cigarettes (Questionnaire on Smoking Urges Factor 2, p < .05). No group differences were found for secondary outcomes.ConclusionsAdolescent participants assigned to VLNC use for 3 weeks smoked fewer total CPD relative to the NNC group. Overall, data suggest that a VLNC policy would reduce cigarette smoking in adolescents who smoke, but high rates of incomplete adherence suggest that youth may seek alternative sources of nicotine in this scenario.ImplicationsThe US Food and Drug Administration may enact a reduced-nicotine product standard that would affect all commercially available cigarettes. One important population affected by this policy would be adolescents who smoke. This study, the first clinical trial of VLNC cigarettes in adolescents, demonstrates that adolescents switched to VLNC cigarettes for 3 weeks reduced their CPD relative to the normal-nicotine cigarette control group, without leading to increased respiratory symptoms or increased withdrawal. Biomarkers indicated the use of other sources of nicotine, suggesting that such a policy will need to consider approaches to assist in transitioning away from smoking.

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Reducing the nicotine content of tobacco by grafting with eggplant.

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Reducing the nicotine content of tobacco by grafting with eggplant.

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