nicotinelike
Nicotinelike is an umbrella term used in pharmacology and toxicology to describe substances that resemble nicotine in structure or pharmacological action, particularly their interaction with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The term can apply to natural alkaloids such as nicotine, nornicotine, anabasine, and anatabine, as well as synthetic ligands that mimic nicotine’s receptor activity. In some contexts, nicotinelike also describes neonicotinoids, a class of insecticides that act on insect nAChRs and are more selective for insects than mammals.
Most nicotinelike agents target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which are ligand-gated ion channels composed of various subunit
Examples with clinical relevance include nicotine itself and tobacco alkaloids; pharmacotherapeutic agents for smoking cessation such
Because of their action at reward-related brain circuits, nicotinelike compounds can be addictive and may produce