METHOD FOR REDUCING NITROSAMINES IN TOBACCO

Abstract

Nitrosamines are reduced in tobacco by treating a whole tobacco leaf with ferulic acid. Treatment is conducted by applying an aqueous solution of ferulic acid to the whole tobacco leaf immediately before, at, or after harvesting, or fire curing the whole tobacco leaf with wood smoke containing the ferulic acid.

Description

Claims

1. A method for treating tobacco to inhibit formation of nitrosamines comprising; treating a whole tobacco leaf with a ferulic acid compound; andrecovering said treated whole tobacco leaf.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said treating is conducted by applying an aqueous solution of said ferulic acid compound on the whole leaf between immediately before to immediately after harvesting of the tobacco plant, but prior to curing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said treating is conducted by applying a smoke containing said ferulic acid compound on said whole tobacco leaf during curing.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said applying is conducted by dipping said whole tobacco leaf in a bath of an aqueous solution of said ferulic acid compound after harvesting or by spraying said aqueous solution onto said whole tobacco leaf between immediately before to immediately after harvesting.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said treating is conducted between about three days before harvesting and about three days after harvesting.

6. The method of claims 2 wherein the ferulic acid compound is ferulic acid, an ester of ferulic acid, or both, and said aqueous solution comprises said ferulic acid compound, a surfactant and water.

7. The method of claims 2, wherein said aqueous solution comprises said ferulic acid compound in an amount of about 0.1% to about 1% weight by volume, a surfactant and water.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said aqueous solution is applied to said whole tobacco leaf prior to harvest in an amount of about 50 gallons per acre.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said aqueous solution is applied to said whole tobacco leaf in an amount of about 0.01 ml per square inch of leaf.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein said ferulic acid compound is sprinkled on sawdust used to generate said smoke in an amount of one pound per acre of tobacco.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein aqueous solution further comprises an alcohol.