It is a precursor to the carcinogen N-nitrosonornicotine that is produced during the curing and processing of tobacco.

[2] Nornicotine can react in human saliva to form N-nitrosonornicotine,[3] a known type 1 carcinogen.

One route is the demethylation of nicotine, which can be accomplished by reaction with silver oxide.

[5] Another route is the partial reduction of 3-myosmine, which can be accomplished by standard catalytic hydrogenation conditions using palladium as a catalyst[6] or with sodium borohydride.

[8] It also inhibits DAT in striatum via nAChR and releases dopamine in rats.