Use of a phenol oxidizing enzyme in the treatment of tobacco

Details Use of a phenol oxidizing enzyme in the treatment of tobacco Use of a phenol oxidizing enzyme in the treatment of tobacco

1999-07-07

2001-10-09

Silverman, Stanley S. (Department: 1731)

Tobacco

Tobacco treatment

Extraction of component, other than moisture, by contact...

C131S308000, C131S300000, C131S309000, C131S290000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06298859

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the preparation and treatment of tobacco. More specifically, the invention relates to such processes in which a tobacco material is treated with a phenol oxidising enzyme to provide an improved tobacco material.
BACKGROUND ART
Processes for improving tobacco quality and varying tobacco flavour are constantly being sought. With these overall goals in mind, efforts are currently spent on i.a. the removal of proteins and phenolic compounds such as polyphenols from tobacco, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,097, which relates to a method for reducing protein and polyphenol content of a tobacco material.
It has been reported that of the polyphenols present in tobacco leaves chlorogenic acid is predominant and that low levels of chlorogenic acid in tobacco leaves leads to low levels of the undesired component catechol in tobacco smoke, Schlotzhauer W.S. (1992), Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. Vol 22, page 231-238.
A process for removing phenolic compounds from tobacco which makes use of solid adsorbents such as alumina, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,451. U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,097 discloses the use of another insoluble adsorbent, viz. polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP), in such process. However, these methods are disadvantageous in being relatively non-selective.
GB 2069814 relates to a method of changing the structure of tobacco, changing its chemical composition and improving its sensorial feature by submitting tobacco to the action of enzymes selected from oxidoreductases (e.g. monophenol monooxygenase, EC 1.14.18.1), lyases, hydrolases and microorganisms constituting a source of such enzymes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a process for preparing a tobacco product, which process comprises treating a tobacco material with a phenol modifying enzyme, preferably a phenol oxidizing enzyme, and most preferably a polyphenol oxidizing enzyme.
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for reducing the amount of phenolic compounds in a tobacco material, in which method the tobacco material is treated with a phenol oxidising enzyme.
According to the invention, an improved tobacco material having a reduced content of phenolic compounds is achieved by treating a tobacco extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to a process for preparing a tobacco product, which comprises the steps of extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to provide an extract and a tobacco residue; and treating the extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme.
In further aspects, the invention relates to a method for improving the customer compliance, such as, e.g. improving the smoking pleasure of the consumer, e.g. by modifying the chemical composition, flavour, aroma, taste and/or colour thereby increasing the versatility of the tobacco products on the market.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of a phenol oxidising enzyme in the preparation or treatment of tobacco. In one embodiment, the invention relates to the use of a laccase in the treatment of tobacco.
In another aspect, the invention relates to tobacco materials obtainable, in particular obtained, by any of the processes described herein. The invention encompasses the final, ready-for-use tobacco products, as well as any extracts of a tobacco material having been treated by any of the herein claimed processes. These tobacco materials have a reduced amount of phenolic compounds.


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