Have you yet sworn to a New Year resolution and it revolves around quitting smoking? A new study has come to the surface that recognises the contribution of 'Cytisine', a plant-based compound, in smoking cessation. Cytisine is derived from the seeds of Cytisus laborinum L plant (Golden Rain acacia) and acts as a partial agonist of nicotine acetylcholine receptors known to dim the central effects of nicotine.

Published in Addiction, the study shows that this compound, that alleviates withdrawal symptoms, is in low in cost and far more effective than nicotine replacement therapy. It is also said to involve zero evidence of serious health concerns, since it has a benign safety profile.

Lead author Omar De Santi, of Centro Nacional de Intoxicaciones (CNI) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, shared, "Our study adds to the evidence that cytisine is an effective and inexpensive stop-smoking aid."

Even though it is not available in a lot of places outside Europe, the drug could be extremely useful world-wide.