Abstract
Nicotine, the main pharmacologically active component in tobacco and cigarette, has
some toxic effects and also high potential for addiction. In this study, the effect
of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) and zeolite nano-materials on urinary excretion of nicotine and consequently elimination
of systematically absorbed nicotine was investigated. A simple, valid and highly sensitive
high performance liquid chromatography method has been developed for determination
of nicotine in rat urine according to guidelines for bioanalysis.
It was found that nano-zeolites can cause increase in urinary concentration of nicotine
due to its high surface adsorption. Artichoke leaf extract can cause increase in urinary
excretion of nicotine in longer post administration times. It was observed that co-administration
of nanozeolites and the leaf extract has the synergetic effect on increasing the urinary
excretion of nicotine.
Key words
nicotine - high performance liquid chromatography - artichoke leaf extracts (ALE)
- zeolite nano-materials