This was transferred to Nicotiana benthamiana by Karel Domin in Bibliotheca Botanica (1929), honoring the original author in the specific epithet.

[2] The plant was used by people of Australia as a stimulant, containing nicotine and other alkaloids, before the introduction of commercial tobacco (N. tabacum and N. rustica).

[3] In 2022, a genetically engineered N. benthamiana was developed that was able to produce 25% of the amount of cocaine found in a coca plant.

[9] The Quebec City-based biotechnology company, Medicago Inc., uses N. benthamiana as a "factory" to produce virus-like particles over short incubation periods (days) and in high volume, enabling rapid manufacturing capability for a potential COVID-19 vaccine.

[10][11] In February 2022, Health Canada authorised use of the COVID-19 vaccine called CoVLP (brand name Covifenz) developed from N. benthamiana for preventing infection in adults 18 to 64 years old.