OCCURRENCE OF THE TOBACCO ALKALOID MYOSMINE IN NUTS AND NUT PRODUCTS OF ARACHUS-HYPOGAEA AND CORYLUS-AVELLANA

Myosmine is one of the major tobacco-specific pyridine-containing alka loids. It is also a metabolite of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine N-n itrosonornicotine. In the present study it is shown that the occurrenc e of myosmine is not restricted to the tobacco plant. Using a newly de veloped method for extraction and quantitative analysis, myosmine was detected in samples of peanuts (Arachus hypogaea) and hazelnuts (Coryl us avellana) in ng/g amounts. Therefore, consumption of nuts and nut p roducts is a new as yet unknown source for human myosmine exposure. In vestigations of the toxicological impact of myosmine uptake by humans are warranted.