Many plant-based drugs, including nicotine, originated as natural insecticides: the plant uses them to make itself poisonous to insects that would eat it.
Ld50 is not something I knew about when I asked. I'll pay more attention next time I see some info on it. I'm not abusing nicotine cessation products as much so my interest in researching it has waned.
I'm learning more than I thought I would from this question.