Cotininine

Cotininine is a metabolite of nicotine. When nicotine is ingested or absorbed into the body, it is broken down by enzymes, primarily in the liver, and cotinine is one of the major products of this metabolism. It is also produced in smaller amounts from the metabolism of other tobacco alkaloids. Cotinine is often used as a biomarker to assess tobacco exposure. Because it has a longer half-life in the body than nicotine, cotinine levels in biological samples such as blood, urine, and saliva can provide a more reliable indicator of recent or chronic tobacco use over a period of hours to days. This makes it a valuable tool in clinical research, public health studies, and for monitoring smoking cessation efforts. The concentration of cotinine in a person's system is influenced by factors such as the amount of tobacco used, the individual's metabolic rate, and even genetic factors. While cotinine itself has some pharmacological activity, it is generally considered to be less potent than nicotine.