Nicotelline is an alkaloid first identified in 1914 as a chemical constituent of tobacco plants (Nicotiana).

[2] The chemical structure of nicotelline wasn't elucidated until 1956, when it was determined that nicotelline is a terpyridine consisting of three linked pyridine rings.

[1] It is soluble in hot water, chloroform, ethanol, and benzene.

[1] Nicotelline has long been known to be a constituent of tobacco smoke.

[5] As such, it has recently been proposed as a biomarker or environmental tracer for tobacco smoke.