Clove cigarette smoking: biochemical, physiological, and subjective effects

Abstract

Alternative tobacco products such as clove (kreteks) and bidi cigarettes have become increasingly popular among US smokers. The nicotine content of a popular clove cigarette (Djarum Special) filler averaged 7.4 mg; conventional cigarettes contained 13.0 mg. However, smoke yields from standardized machine-smoking analysis indicated it delivered more nicotine, carbon monoxide (CO), and tar than conventional cigarettes. In a clinical study, nicotine delivery, physiologic, and subjective effects of the clove cigarette were compared to their own brand of cigarette in 10 adult smokers (7 males). Average time to smoke the clove cigarette (549 s) and number of puffs (15.1) were significantly greater than own brand (314 s and 9.4 puffs). Increases in venous plasma nicotine and exhaled CO after smoking the clove cigarette (17.4 ng/ml; 6 ppm) were similar to those after own brand (17.6 ng/ml; 4.5 ppm). Maximal changes in heart rate (HR), systolic, and diastolic blood pressures (BP) did not differ significantly between the clove and own brand of cigarette. Compared to their own brand of cigarette, the clove cigarette was rated as better tasting and being distinctly different. Our findings indicate that clove cigarettes deliver significant quantities of nicotine, CO, and presumably other toxic components of tobacco smoke. Taste satisfaction, aromatic odor, and novelty may contribute to their appeal to young smokers.

Tobacco (Kretek) Smoking, Betel Quid Chewing and Risk of Oral Cancer in a Selected Jakarta Population

“…Kretek has been found to contain more nicotine (1.2-4.5mg), tar (46.8mg) and carbon monoxide (28.3mg) than cigarettes (1.1mg, 16.3mg, 15.5mg respectively) (Knaresborough, 1999;Malson et al, 2003). Furthermore, kreteks tend to be inhaled deeply due to the distinctive scent and anesthetic quality of the clove (Nitcher et al, 2009).…”

Prevalence of alternative forms of tobacco use in a population of young adult military recruits

“…These effects appear to be largely due to the anesthetic action of eugenol (the active ingredient in cloves), which can impair the gag reflex, leading to pulmonary aspiration (Council on Scientific Affairs, 1988; Guidotti et al, 1989). Smoke yields from standardized machine-smoking analysis of clove cigarettes also indicated they deliver more nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar than conventional cigarettes (Clark, 1989(Clark, , 1990Malson, Lee, Murty, Moolchan, & Pickworth, 2003).…”

Antibacterial effect of clove (Eugenia aromaticum) oil extracted from clove cigarettes towards Streptococcus mutans

“…Clove cigarettes deliver higher tar content than most cigarettes, ranging from 34-65 mg; nicotine ranging from 1.9-2.6 mg; and carbon monoxide from 18-28 mg per cigarette. 3,7 The high deliveries of tar probably caused by the combination of four factors: the nature of Indonesian tobacco as the cigarette compound; the high weight of the cigarettes; the number of puffs required to smokes the cigarette; and the tar residues left by the clove bud. 3 Much of the smoke derived from a clove cigarette contains a simple distillation of clove oil, without oxidation of the elements.…”