Chromatographic Examinations on the Separation of the Alkylating Fractions of Cigarette Tobacco and Smoke/Chromatographische Untersuchungen zur Auftrennung alkylierender Fraktionen des Cigarettentabaks und des Cigarettenrauches

In order to obtain information about number and origin of compounds which may contribute to the alkylating activity of tobacco smoke condensate identifiable in the methanol extract of the condensate of commerciaI cigarettes by means of 4-(4'-nitrobenzyI)pyridine, spectroscopic as well as thin-layer- and column-chromatographic procedures were used. Two compounds of the water- or methanoI-soluble fraction were separated and proved to be resorbed during inhalation and dissolved in saliva. During the process of conventional condensate treatment, further five less polaric compounds were found to remain in the cyclohexane fraction, whereas the resulting nitromethane fraction contains the carcinogenic activity almost totally. These compounds can also be extracted from unsmoked tobacco. The role they possibly play in respiratory carcinogenesis is discussed on the basis of the results obtained by the present study with regard to carcinogenic constituents of tobacco extracts.