Tobaccoย is the common name of several plants in theย genusย Nicotianaย of theย familyย Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from theย curedย leavesย of these plants.ย More than 70 speciesย of tobacco are known, but the chief commercial crop isย N. tabacum. The more potent variantย N. rusticaย is also used in some countries.
Dried leaves are mainly used for smokingย inย cigarettesย andย cigars, as well asย pipesย andย shishas. They can also be consumed asย snuff,ย chewing tobacco,ย dipping tobacco, andย snus.
It contains the highly addictive stimulantย alkaloidย nicotineย as well asย harmala alkaloids.[3] The usage is a cause or risk factor for many deadly diseases, especially those affecting the heart,ย liver, andย lungs, as well asย many cancers.