AU4769899A - Use of a phenol oxidising enzyme in the treatment of tobacco - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for preparing tobacco, which process comprises the steps of treating a tobacco material with a phenol oxidising enzyme, such as by extracting tobacco with a solvent to provide an extract and a residue; and treating the extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme such as a laccase. An improved tobacco product having a reduced amount of phenolic compounds. This is an alternative or a supplement to a process in which the phenolic compounds are adsorbed onto the insoluble carrier polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP). In preferred embodiments, the process includes further steps of removing the oxidised phenolic compound, adding adsorbents such as bentonite; removing and/or inactivating the enzyme; and concentrating the extract. Preferred phenol oxidising enzymes are peroxidases and laccases. The thus treated extract is advantageously re-combined with the tobacco residue and further processed to provide a tobacco article for smoking.

Description

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 1 USE OF A PHENOL OXIDISING ENZYME IN THE TREATMENT OF TOBACCO TECHNICAL FIELD 5 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. 10 BACKGROUND ART Processes for improving tobacco quality and varying tobacco 15 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. US patent no. 5,601,097, which relates to a method for reducing protein and polyphenol content of a tobacco 20 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 25 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 30 makes use of solid adsorbents such as alumina, is disclosed in US 3,561,451. US 5,601,097 discloses the use of another insolu ble adsorbent, viz. polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP), in such WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 2 process. However, these methods are disadvantageous in being relatively non-selective. GB 2069814 relates to a method of changing the structure of 5 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. 10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention provides a process for preparing a tobacco product, which process comprises treating a 15 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 20 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 25 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 30 extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to provide an extract and a tobacco residue; and treating the extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 3 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 5 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 10 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 15 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 20 phenolic compounds. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OT THE DRAWINGS Figure 1: Binary gradient profile for HPLC analysis of phenols, 25 see Methods and procedures in Examples. Figure 2: Spectra of nicotine before and after treatment with laccase, see Example 1. 30 Figure 3: Spectra of chlorogenic acid before and after treatment with laccase, see Example 1. Figure 4: Spectra of rutin before and after treatment with lac case, see Example 1. 35 Figure 5: Spectra of scopoletin before and after treatment with laccase, see Example 1.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 4 Figure 6: HPLC chromatogram of mixture of phenol standards: ru tin, scopoletin, and chlorogenic acid. The two chromatograms are identical except for the scale, see Example 2. 5 Figure 7: HPLC chromatogram of tobacco extract. The two chroma tograms are identical except for the scale, see Example 2. Figure 8: HPLC chromatogram of tobacco extract spiked with rutin, 10 scopoletin, and chlorogenic acid. The two chromatograms are iden tical except for the scale, see Example 2. Figure 9: Series of HPLC chromatograms of samples of tobacco ex tract as a function of time when treated with 1.6 pg/ml TvL at 15 pH 5.5 and 55 0 C. The two sets of chromatograms are identical ex cept for the scale, see Example 2. Figure 10: Flow chart showing process-flow and indicating which samples have been prepared, see Example 8. 20 Figure 11: Chemical structure of Rutin. Figure 12: Chemical structure of Scopoletin. 25 Figure 13: Chemical structure of Chlorogenic acid. DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 30 The present invention provides a process for preparing a tobacco product, which process comprises the step of (i) treating a tobacco material with a phenol oxidising enzyme. 35 The expression "tobacco material" as used herein denotes the tobacco starting material for the various treatments in the present invention, whatever type, source or origin and whatever other kinds of treatments prior to the treatment of the present invention it has been subjected to. Thus, the expression 40 "tobacco material" includes, without limitation, tobacco solids WO 00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 5 and any solid form of tobacco, such as, e.g., cured tobacco (such as flue-cured tobacco); uncured tobacco (so-called green tobacco); dried, aged, cut, ground, stripped or shredded tobacco; tobacco scrap; expanded tobacco, fermented tobacco; 5 reconstituted tobacco; whatever the source and whatever the grade, as well as any combination of these tobacco materials. Also tobacco blends are included. The tobacco material may be from any parts of the tobacco plant, such as stem, veins, scrap and waste tobacco, cuttings and the like as well as whole leaf 10 and part thereof. Preferably the tobacco material used as a starting material for present invention is the lamina portion of the tobacco leaf. In a preferred embodiment, the tobacco material is in part or totally composed of cured tobacco. In particular, this expression covers the tobacco raw material 15 entering a tobacco preparation or treatment process. In specific embodiments of the invention, the term tobacco material includes a tobacco extract or a tobacco extraction mixture of any solid form of tobacco; preferably, an extract from cured tobacco is used. The tobacco material used in the process of the invention 20 may be from any tobacco species from which it is desired to make a tobacco product. Of particular interest is tobacco from the subgenus Nicotiana tabacum. The term "tobacco product" denotes the product resulting from 25 any of the processes of the invention. Included are, without limitation, the final, ready-for-use tobacco products, as well as any extracts of a tobacco material where the extracts have been treated by any of the herein claimed processes. Thus, the term "tobacco product" includes the final products wherein the 30 process according to the invention has been used, in particular the term includes tobacco articles for smoking such as, e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, but also other kinds of WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 6 tobacco product such as a tobacco extract and a tobacco for chewing, such as, e.g., chewing tobacco and tobacco chewing gum. The invention encompasses methods for preparing tobacco 5 products, comprising the step of (i) treating, i.e. contacting, a tobacco material with a phenol modifying enzyme, preferably a phenol oxidizing enzyme, and most preferably a polyphenol oxidizing enzyme. In one embodiment said enzyme is not monophenol monooxygenase (EC 1.14.18.1). 10 In preferred embodiments, the method of the invention comprises the steps of (ii) extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to provide an extraction mixture; (iii) separating the extraction mixture into a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue; 15 where step (i), i.e. treatment with the phenol oxidising enzyme, is performed during or after step (ii) and before step (iii), or step (i) is performed on the extract after step (iii). In one embodiment, the invention provides a process for 20 preparing a tobacco product comprising the steps of (ii) extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to provide an extraction mixture; (iii) separating the extraction mixture into a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue; (i) treating the tobacco extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme to produce one or 25 more oxidised phenolic compounds. The present invention provides a method for reducing the amount of phenolic compounds in tobacco, whereby the soluble phenolic compounds of the tobacco material are extracted into the liquid 30 part of an extraction mixture, thereby facilitating the action of the phenol oxidising enzyme.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 7 The solvent used for the extraction step is preferably an aqueous solvent. However, mixtures of water and organic solvents may also be used to extract phenolic components such as lignin or other hydrophobic compounds, which are not soluble, or only 5 slightly soluble, in water. By aqueous extraction the water soluble phenolic compounds of the tobacco material will partition into the aqueous extract, together with i.a. nicotine, soluble proteins, sugars, amino 10 acids, pectins, inorganic salts and the surfactants used, if any. Thus, in general it is preferred that in the process of the invention an aqueous solvent is used which comprises a major 15 amount of water, viz. more than 30%, such as 50%, preferably more than 60%, more preferably more than 75%, still more preferably more than 90% and most preferably more than 95% water, such as more than 99% Water (% means weight percentage) to extract the tobacco material. In one embodiment of the 20 invention, the extraction of the tobacco material is performed with an aqueous solvent composed of 100% water. Accordingly, the aqueous solvent may comprise additional components other than water, such as, e.g. alcohols such as 25 ethanol or methanol; or other water miscible solvents like dimethylpropylene Urea, N-methylpyrrolidone, acetone, propan-2 ol, propan-l-ol, ethyleneglycol dimethyl ether, ethyleneglycol monomethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, 1,4-dioxane, morpholine, dimethyl 30 formamide, diethylene glycol, dimethyl ether, dimethyl sulfoxide, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethyleneglycol, diethyleneglycol, sulpholane, glycerol or triethanolamine.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 8 The solvent may comprise additional components, including, without limitation, surfactants (whether anionic such as sodium dodecylsulfate and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, cationic or 5 non-ionic); enzymes such as proteolytic enzymes, such as, e.g. Savinase T M from Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark. The tobacco material may be extracted with both an organic solvent and an aqueous solvent in two different steps, to 10 extract components which are not soluble or only slightly soluble in water or in aqueous solvents. The extraction of the tobacco material with the aqueous solvent may come before or after the extraction of the tobacco material with the organic solvent. In one embodiment of the invention, the extraction of 15 the tobacco material is performed with an aqueous solvent. Optionally, a further extraction of the tobacco material with an organic solvent is performed before or after the aqueous extraction of the tobacco material. The organic solvent may be pure, water miscible organic solvents, such as alcohols, e.g. 20 ethanol or methanol, or other water miscible solvents like dimethylpropylene Urea, N-methylpyrrolidone, acetone, propan-2 ol, propan-l-ol, ethyleneglycol dimethyl ether, ethyleneglycol monomethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobu tanol, tert-butanol, 1,4-dioxane, morpholine, dimethylformamide, 25 diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, dimethyl sulfoxide, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethyleneglycol, diethyleneglycol, sulpholane, glycerol, triethanolamine, or pure, organic solvents not miscible with water, such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, alkanes, e.g. tetrahydrofuran (THF), diethylether, 30 methyl isobutyl ketone, pentane, hexane or dioxane, dichlo romethane, ethyl acetate, cyclohexane, ligroin, petroleum ether, toluene, xylenes, anisol.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 9 At the stage of treatment with the phenol oxidising enzyme the environment of the extraction mixture or the extract alone, i.e. substantially without the tobacco residue, should be so that the 5 enzyme is capable of being active. Normally, this requires that the enzymatic treatment is performed in an aqueous solvent phase in contrast to an organic solvent phase. If the extraction of the tobacco material is performed using an organic solvent, it is preferred that an aqueous extraction step is performed as a 10 liquid-liquid extraction of the organic extract in order to provide an aqueous phase which in the present context should be understood as being encompassed in the term aqueous extract of the tobacco material. If a mixture of water soluble organic solvents and water is used, the content of organic solvent may s15 be decreased by conventional methods for removal of organic solvents, such as evaporation or freezing (cooling). In a preferred embodiment a tobacco material is first extracted with an aqueous solvent, preferably water. Subsequently the 20 tobacco residue may be treated with an organic solvent to extract phenolic compounds which are soluble in the organic solvent but not in the aqueous solvent. The resulting organic extract (i.e. the liquid portion separated from the tobacco residue, the tobacco residue being the solid portion of the 25 extraction mixture) may be disregarded or used, preferably following a liquid-liquid extraction to provide and aqueous phase, for combination with a tobacco material, such as e.g. a phenol oxidising enzyme-treated tobacco extract. 30 According to the invention it is preferred, but not required, that the extraction step be performed under conditions maximising the extraction of soluble phenolic compounds. However WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 10 even partial extraction is useful for ultimately reducing the concentration of phenolic compounds in the final tobacco product. Some examples of appropriate extraction conditions are listed below. Generally, any of these conditions can be 5 optimised using only routine experimentation by establishing a matrix of conditions and testing different points in the matrix. Suitable extraction process conditions are e.g. a temperature of 10-800C, 30-800C, such as 20-70 0 C, 30-70 0 C, 45-70 0 C, e.g. 35-600C, 10 such as 40-55'C, about 45-50 0 C, typically about 450C; a pH of 3 10, such as 4-9, 4-8, 5-8, 5-7, e.g. 5-6; an extraction time of 5 minutes to 24 hours, 1-24 hours, such as 5 minutes to 10 hours, 1 minute to 5 hours, 5 minutes to 5 hours, 5 min to 1 hour, 5 min to 8 hour, typically about 15 minutes. The solvent, 15 preferably aqueous, is advantageously added in an amount of 5 200 times the amount of tobacco material (dry weight), such as 5-100 times, more preferably as 5-50 times, most preferably 10 50 times, typically about 40 times. The extraction advantageously takes place under stirring or other kind of 20 mixing of the tobacco material and the solvent. The surfactant, if any, in the solvent used for extraction may be, without limitation, sodium alkylsulfonates, sodium alkylsul fates, sodium or potassium salts of oarboxylic acids, sodium al 25 kylarylsulfonates, sodium alkylsulfosuccinates and mixtures of any of the foregoing. In particular are considered surfactants having a chain length of between 8 and 12 carbon atoms. In spe cific embodiments of the invention, the surfactant is one or more of sodium dodecylsulfate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate 30 and sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (Aerosol OT.TM). The surfactant is preferably added to the solvent at a concentration range of 0.01%-5% w/v solution.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 11 According the invention, having provided an extraction mixture, the tobacco residue is preferably separated from the extract either before or after (preferably before) the treatment with a 5 phenol oxidising enzyme. The separation can be performed using any methods, including, without limitation, centrifugation, filtration, sedimentation, decanting or sieving or any combinations thereof. Particularly preferred methods of separation are filtration and centrifugation. 10 It is preferred that the surfactants, if any, are removed from the extract, said extract is preferably an aqueous extract. This may be done by cooling, e.g. to 4 0 C causing the surfactants to precipitate and/or precipitation using e.g. inorganic calcium or 15 magnesium salt followed by e.g. centrifugation. The term "tobacco residue" as used herein refers to the solid to bacco material resulting from extraction of a "tobacco material" with whatever kind of extraction liquor followed by separation 20 (e.g. by filtration or centrifugation) from the liquid fraction (the "tobacco extract"). The tobacco residue representing the wa ter insoluble portion of tobacco. The tobacco residue may be sub jected to further treatment/processing such as drying. 25 The term "tobacco extract" refers to the liquid fraction (being clarified or not) resulting from extraction of "tobacco material" with whatever kind of extraction liquor followed by separation (e.g. by filtration or centrifugation) from the solid extraction material ("tobacco residue"). Accordingly, the tobacco extract 30 comprises soluble components of tobacco and is substantially free from tobacco solids. The tobacco extract may be subjected to treatment with other additives and/or other processing.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 12 The term "extraction mixture" as used herein refers to a suspension resulting from an extraction of a tobacco material; the suspension comprising a solid fraction and a liquid 5 fraction. Phenol oxidising enzyme, step (i) 10 According to the invention, it is essential that the tobacco material, preferably in the form of an aqueous extraction mixture or aqueous extract, is treated with a phenol oxidising enzyme. This step (i) is described in greater detail in the following. 15 In the present context, the term "phenol oxidising enzyme" includes any oxidoreductase acting on phenols and related substances as donors, preferably with molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide as acceptor. The phenol oxidising enzyme of 20 the invention are any enzyme capable of oxidising at least one phenolic compound. An oxidation is an electron transfer reaction between two reactants: A donor looses an electron (i.e. one or more 25 electrons), an acceptor gains an electron (i.e. one or more electrons); one of the reactants is oxidised (the electron donor), the other reactant is reduced (the acceptor). Enzymes catalysing such reactions are called oxidoreductases. 30 The phenol oxidising enzyme may be of any origin. The term "phenol oxidising enzyme" encompasses phenol oxidising enzymes derived from prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms, such as WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 13 animals, plants or microorganisms (such as e.g. bacteria or fungi - including filamentous fungi and yeast). In one embodiment, the process of the invention utilises a phenol oxidising enzyme derived from tobacco. 5 The term "derived" means in this context that the enzyme may have been isolated from an organism where it is present natively, i.e. the identity of the amino acid sequence of the enzyme are corresponding to a native enzyme. The term "derived" 10 also means that the enzymes may have been produced recombinantly in a host organism, the recombinant produced enzyme having either an identity corresponding to a native enzyme or having it a modified amino acid sequence, e.g. having one or more amino acids which are deleted, inserted and/or substituted, i.e. a 15 recombinantly produced enzyme which is a mutant and/or a fragment of a native amino acid sequence. Within the meaning of a native enzyme are included natural variants. Furthermore, the term "derived" includes enzymes produced synthetically by e.g. peptide synthesis. The term "derived" also encompasses enzymes 20 which have been modified e.g. by glycosylation, phosphorylation etc., whether in vivo or in vitro. The term "obtainable" means in this context that the enzyme has 25 an amino acid sequence corresponding to a native enzyme. The term encompasses an enzyme that has been isolated from an organism where it is present natively or one in which it has been expressed recombinantly in the same type of organism or another. With respect to recombinantly produced enzyme the terms 30 "obtainable" and "derived" refers to the identity of the enzyme and not the identity of the host organism in which it is produced recombinantly.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 14 The expression "an enzyme obtainable from an organism", whether an eukaryotic or a prokaryotic organism, denotes an enzyme which has been obtained from the organism where it is produced 5 natively or an enzyme that has been produced recombinantly in a host organism, where the recombinant enzyme has an amino acid sequence corresponding to a native enzyme. Thus, the term "derived" in the context of "a phenol oxidising 10 enzyme" encompassed phenol oxidising enzymes (such as, e.g. a laccase) obtainable from animals, plants or microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi (including filamentous fungi and yeast) as well as mutants, fragments or variants thereof with phenol oxidising enzymatic activity. One embodiment of the invention 15 comprises use of a phenol oxidising enzyme obtainable from tobacco. Accordingly, the phenol oxidising enzyme may be obtained from a microorganism by use of any suitable technique. For instance, a 20 phenol oxidising enzyme preparation may be obtained by fermenta tion of a suitable microorganism and subsequent isolation of a phenol oxidising enzyme containing preparation from the result ing fermented broth or microorganism by methods known in the art. Preferably the phenol oxidising enzyme preparation is ob 25 tained by use of recombinant DNA techniques. Such method nor mally comprises cultivation of a host cell transformed with a recombinant DNA vector comprising a DNA sequence encoding the phenol oxidising enzyme in question and the DNA sequence being operationally linked with an appropriate expression signal such 30 that it is capable of expressing the phenol oxidising enzyme in a culture medium under conditions permitting the expression of the enzyme and recovering the enzyme from the culture. The DNA WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 15 sequence may also be incorporated into the genome of the host cell. The DNA sequence may be of genomic, cDNA or synthetic ori gin or any combinations of these, and may be isolated or synthe sized in accordance with methods known in the art. 5 Phenolic compounds/Phenols: In the present context, the concept of "phenolic compounds" and "phenols" refers to any compound which comprises at least one 10 phenolic ring structure, i.e. an aromatic ring structure, in particular a benzene ring structure, with at least one OH substituent at a ring C-atom, whatever other substituents, and whatever the number of condensed benzene rings. This definition, in particular comprises (mono)phenols, as well as polyphenols, 15 such as di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexaphenols. The term "monophenol" encompasses a compound comprising one hydroxy group attached to an aromatic ring system. 20 The term di-, tri-, tetra-, -penta and hexaphenols encompasses a compound comprising a total of two, tree, four, five or six hydroxy groups, respectively, and one or more aromatic ring systems, where the hydroxy groups are attached to the same or different aromatic rings. 25 The term "polyphenol" as used herein refers to a compound com prising 2 or more hydroxy groups attached to one or more aromatic ring systems, as used herein such compounds are also termed "polyhydroxy phenols". The term "polyphenol" as used herein also 30 encompasses a compound comprising one aromatic ring having at least two hydroxy groups attached. The term "polyphenol" as used herein also includes polymeric material based on phenolic mono- WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 16 mers, as used herein such compounds are also termed "polymeric phenols". The polymeric material may originate from polymerisa tion reactions of phenolic compounds 5 Non-limiting examples of phenols relevant to the present inven tion include flavanoids, such as rutin (also named rutoside), quercetin (also named 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy 4H-l-benzopyran-4-one; and 3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), isoquercitrin (also named 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(B-D-glyco 10 furanosyloxy)-5,7-dihydroxy-4H-benzopyran-4-one; and 3,3',4', 5,7-pentahydroxyflavone-3-glycoside; and quercetin-3-glycoside), kaempferol (also named 3,5,7-Trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H l-benzopyran-4-one; and 3,4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone), robinin (also named 3-[[6-O-(6-Deoxy-x-L-mannopyranosyl)-D-galacto 15 pyranosyl]oxy]-7-[(6-deoxy-a-L-mannopyranosyl-)oxy]-5-hydroxy-2 (4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-l-benzopyran-4-one); coumarins, such as scopoletin (also named 7-Hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-l-benzopyran-2 one, and 7-hydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin) and scopolin (also named scopoletin-7-glycoside); and caffetannins, such as isomers of 20 caffeoylquinic acid (3-. 4-. 5-o- caffeoylquinic acid). Accord ing to the process of the invention, chlorogenic acid (also named 3-o-caffeoylquinic acid and 3-[[3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-1 oxo-2-propenyl]oxyl1,4,5-trihydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid), rutin and scopoletin is of special interest. The chemical struc 25 ture of rutin, scopoletin and chlorogenic acid are shown in fig ures 11-13. An object of the present invention is to reduce the content of low molecular weight phenolic compounds in tobacco, in particular 30 phenolic compounds that are extractable from tobacco. Of special interest are phenolic compounds extractable in an aqueous solvent such as, e.g., the compounds scopoletin, rutin and chlorogenic WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 17 acid. The term "extractable phenolic compounds" refers to "soluble phenolic compounds", i.e. phenolic compounds which are capable of being extracted from a tobacco material by means of a solvent. One aspect of the invention relates to water soluble 5 phenolic compounds, i.e. phenolic compounds capable of being extracted from a tobacco material by use of an aqueous solvent, the aqueous solvent being as defined herein, such as, e.g., pure water. One embodiment relates to a process of the invention for reducing the concentration of at least one phenolic compound in 10 a tobacco material wherein said phenolic compound(s) is/are soluble, preferably water soluble, phenolic compound(s). The term "soluble phenolic compounds" includes low molecular 15 weight phenolic compounds. In specific embodiments of the inven tion, low molecular weight refers to compounds having a molecular weight of less than about 10,000 Da, preferably less than 5,000 Da, such as less than 2,000 Da, more preferably less than 1,000 Da. In one embodiment of the invention, the term refers to pheno 20 lic "monomers", such as, e.g., the low molecular compounds sco poletin, rutin, and chlorogenic acid, that is phenolic compounds which can be polymerised into oligomers or polymers of the pheno lic monomer. By polymerisation of the phenolic monomer the mo lecular weight of the phenolic compounds is increased. In a pre 25 ferred embodiment of the invention, a polymerisation reaction caused by the treatment with a phenol oxidising enzyme - proceeds until a high molecular weight phenolic material has been made that will allow separation from the tobacco material, preferably in the form of an extract, by means of e.g. ultrafiltration. In a 30 preferred embodiment, the polymeric material becomes insoluble and precipitates.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 18 One embodiment of the invention relates to low molecular weight phenolic compounds. In one embodiment, the phenolic compounds of the invention are low molecular weight phenolic compounds soluble in a solvent, preferably an aqueous solvent. 5 Preferred phenol oxidising enzymes Examples of suitable phenol oxidising enzymes, i.e. enzymes which act on phenolic compounds, such as polyphenols, high molecular 10 weight as well as low molecular weight compounds, include, without limitation, peroxidases (EC 1.11.1.7), laccases (EC 1.10.3.2), bilirubin oxidases (EC 1.3.3.5), monophenol mono oxygenases (EC 1.14.18.1) and catechol oxidases (EC 1.10.3.1). 15 Preferably, the phenol oxidising enzyme is a phenolic oxidase or a peroxidase. Common to phenolic oxidases is that this group catalyses oxidation reactions in which a donor (in the present context a 20 phenolic compound) is oxidised, molecular oxygen acting as the acceptor. Peroxidases are characterised by catalysing reactions in which a donor (in the present context a phenolic compound) is oxidised, 25 hydrogen peroxide acting as the acceptor. The phenolic oxidases or peroxidases of the invention are phenolic oxidases and peroxidases capable of oxidising at least one phenolic compound. To clarify this, the peroxidase of the 30 invention may also be termed a "phenolic peroxidase".

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 19 In specific embodiments of the invention, the phenol oxidising enzyme reacts with its substrate by single electron transfer. Laccases are included in this group of enzymes performing 1 electron oxidations. This is in contrast to phenol oxidising en 5 zymes performing 2-electron oxidations. By the terms "1-electron oxidation" and "single electron trans fer is meant that the compound to be oxidised, in this case the phenolic compound, is oxidised by transfer of one electron or 10 one electron charge equivalent, although the compound from an overall view may be further oxidised. In 1-electron oxidation a radical is generated. Thus, the enzymes in consideration will oxidise the phenolic compounds via generation of a radical. With respect to phenolic compounds this means, that initially an 15 electron is abstracted from the phenolic compound generating a phenoxy radical; this is described e.g. by Yaropolov A.I et al. (1994), Applied biochemistry and Biotechnology, 49, page 257 280; and Thurston C.F. (1994), Microbiology, 140, page 19-26. 20 The radicals, whether a phenoxy radical or an other radical, may be detected by EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) spectros copy (also called ESR = Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy). EPR spectroscopy is a very sensitive and highly specific method of detecting radicals, and it can be used to analyse complex ma 25 trixes without extensive sample pre-treatment such as purifica tion and concentration. It is a matter of routine for a person skilled in the art to perform such analysis. A more simple method to detect radical formation is to incubate the phenol oxidising enzyme with a substrate known to form a stable radical 30 which can be detected by simple UV/visible spectroscopy, e.g. ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 20 diammonium salt), PPT (phenothiazine-10-propionic acid)) or HEPO (10-(2-hydroxyethyl) phenoxazine). Examples of enzymes capable of performing 1-electron oxidation 5 are peroxidases (EC 1.11.1.7), laccases (EC 1.10.3.2), bilirubin oxidases (EC 1.3.3.5), and catechol oxidases (EC 1.10.3.1) Preferred phenolic oxidases are enzymes of classes EC 1.13.-.-; EC 1.14.-.- (such as, e.g., EC 1.14.18.1.) and EC 1.10.3.-, in 10 particular any of the classes EC 1.10.3.1-1.10.3.8, i.e. EC 1.10.3.1, EC 1.10.3.2, EC 1.10.3.3, EC 1.10.3.4, EC 1.10.3.5, EC 1.10.3.6, EC 1.10.3.7 or EC 1.10.3.8. The enzyme classes (EC) mentioned herein are as defined in 15 Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992, Published for the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) by Academic Press, Inc. In specific embodiments of the invention, the phenolic oxidase 20 is an enzyme corresponding to EC 1.10.3.- which comprises enzymes acting on diphenols and related substances as donors with oxygen as acceptor. Monophenols, however, are also very good substrates. Preferred enzymes of these classes are: Catechol oxidases (EC 1.10.3.1); laccases (alternative name 25 urishiol oxidases, EC 1.10.3.2); and o-aminophenol oxidases (EC 1.10.3.4). The grouping EC 1.14.18.1 comprises monophenol monooxygenase (alternative name tyrosinase, phenolase, monophenol oxidase, 30 cresolase). In specific embodiments, the phenol oxidising enzyme is for the treatment of a tobacco extract by the process according to the invention is EC 1.14.18.1.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 21 Preferred phenolic oxidases are listed below, included herein are the phenolic oxidases obtainable from the organism in question and any phenol oxidising enzymatically active variants, 5 fragments or mutants thereof. The activities thereof can be measured by any method known in the art. Laccase (EC 1.10.3.2) enzymes of microbial and plant origin are well known. A suitable microbial laccase enzyme may be derived 10 from plants, bacteria or fungi (including filamentous fungi and yeast) and suitable examples include a laccase derived from a strain of Aspergillus, Neurospora, e.g. N. crassa, Podospora, Botrytis, Collybia, Fomes, Lentinus, Pleurotus, Trametes, e.g., T. villosa, previously called Polyporus pinsitus, and T. 15 versicolor, Rhizoctonia, e.g., R. solani, Coprinus, e.g. C. plicatilis and C. cinereus, Psatyrella, Myceliophthora, e.g. M. thermophila, Scytalidium, e.g. S. thermophilum, Polyporus, e.g., P. pinsitus, Phlebia, e.g., P. radita (WO 92/01046), or Coriolus, e.g., C. hirsutus (JP 2-238885), Rhus, e.g. R. 20 vernicifera, Pycnoporus, e.g. P. cinnabarious, in particular laccases derived from Trametes, Myceliophthora, Scytalidium or Polyporus. In a preferred embodiment, the phenol oxidising enzyme is a laccase derived from tobacco. 25 A suitable catechol oxidase or monophenol monooxygenases may be derived from animals, plants or microorganism such as bacteria or fungi (including filamentous fungi and yeast). Of particular interest is a catechol oxidase or a monophenol monooxygenase derived from tobacco. Examples of catechol oxidases include a 30 catechol oxidase derived from Solanum melongena (Phytochemistry, 1980, 19(8), 1597-1600) or from tea (Phytochemistry, 1973, 12(8), 1947-1955). Polyphenol oxidase may be derived from molds WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 22 (Hakko Kogaku Zasshi, 1970, 48(3), 154-160). A mammalian monophenol monooxygenase (tyrosinase) has been described (Methods Enzymol., 1987, 142, 154-165). Other suitable monophenol monooxygenases can be derived from tea leaves (Prikl. 5 Biokhim. Mikrobiol., 1997, 33(1), 53-56), from Chlorella (Ukr. Bot. Zh., 1986, 43(5), 56-59) or from Neurospora crassa (Methods Enzymol., 1987, 142, 165-169). In a specific embodiment of the invention the phenol oxidising 10 enzyme is not monophenol monooxygenase (EC 1.14.18.1). Suitable peroxidases may be of class EC 1.11.1.-, e.g. EC 1.11.1.7, EC 1.11.1.13 and EC 1.11.1.14. Preferred peroxidases are enzyme of class EC 1.11.1.7. The group EC 1.11.1.7 comprises 15 peroxidases, catalysing oxidation reactions in which a donor is oxidised, hydrogen peroxide acting as the acceptor. Preferred peroxidases are listed below, included herein are the peroxidases obtainable from the organism in question and any 20 phenol oxidising enzymatically active variants, fragments or mutants thereof. The activities thereof can be measured by any method known in the art. The peroxidase may originate from any organism. Preferably, the 25 peroxidase is derived from plants (e.g. horseradish, soybean or tobacco) or microorganisms such as fungi (including filamentous fungi and yeast) or bacteria. Some preferred fungi include strains belonging to the subdivision Deuteromycotina, class Hypho-mycetes, e.g., Fusarium, Humicola, Trichoderma, 30 Myrothecium, Verticillum, Arthromyces, Caldariomyces, Ulocladium, Embellisia, Cladosporium or Dreschlera, in particular Fusarium oxysporum (DSM 2672), Humicola insolens, WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 23 Trichoderma resii, Myrothecium verrucana (IFO 6113), Verticillium alboatrum, Verticillum dahlie, Arthromyces ramosus (FERM P-7754), Caldariomyces fumago, Ulocladium chartarum, Embellisia alli or Dreschlera halodes. Other preferred fungi 5 include strains belonging to the sub-division Basidiomycotina, class Basidiomycetes, e.g. Coprinus, Phanerochaete, Coriolus or Trametes, in particular Coprinus cinereus f. microsporus (IFO 8371), Coprinus macrorhizus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium (e.g. NA-12) or Trametes (previously called Polyporus), e.g. T. 10 versicolor (e.g. PR4 28-A). Further preferred fungi include strains belonging to the sub-division Zygomycotina, class Mycoraceae, e.g. Rhizopus or Mucor, in particular Mucor hiemalis. Some preferred bacteria include strains of the order Actino-mycetales, e.g., Streptomyces spheroides (ATCC 23965), 15 Strep-tomyces thermoviolaceus (IFO 12382) or Streptoverticillum verticillium ssp. verticillium. Other preferred bacteria include Bacillus pumilus (ATCC 12905), Bacillus stearothermophilus, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, Rhodomonas palustri, Streptococcus lactis, Pseudomonas purrocinia (ATCC 15958) or Pseudomonas 20 fluorescens (NRRL B-11). Further preferred bacteria include strains belonging to Myxococcus, e.g., M. virescens. Particularly, a recombinantly produced peroxidase is preferred, e.g., a peroxidase derived from a Coprinus sp., in particular C. 25 macrorhizus or C. cinereus according to WO 92/16634 and WO 94/12621. The phenol oxidising enzyme may be purified, viz. only minor amounts of other proteins being present. The expression "other 30 proteins" relate in particular to other enzymes. The term "purified" as used herein refers to removal of other components, particularly other proteins and most particularly other enzymes, WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 24 that are present in the cell of origin of the phenol oxidising enzyme. Preferably, the enzymes are at least 75% (w/w) pure, more preferably at least 80, 85, 90 or even at least 95% pure. In a still more preferred embodiment the phenol oxidising enzyme 5 is an at least 98% pure enzyme protein preparation. The term "phenol oxidising enzyme" includes whatever auxiliary compounds that may be necessary for the enzyme's catalytic activity, such as, e.g. an appropriate acceptor or cofactor, 10 which may or may not be naturally present in the reaction system. The term "phenol oxidising enzyme" also includes components such as stabilisers, activators, preservatives, metal ions, buffers, 15 surfactants, flocculants, chelating agents and dispersants that allow the enzyme to work optimally under the actual conditions. This optimization of the enzyme catalyzed reaction is a matter of routine experimentation for those of ordinary skill in the art. The term "phenol oxidising enzyme" also includes enhancers 20 or mediators which facilitate and/or accelerate the enzymatic reaction, such as, e.g., described by Faure et al. (1995), Applied and environmental Microbiology, 61(3), page 1144-1146 and by Shannon and Pratt (1967), Journal of food Science, 32, page 479-483] as well as by WO 94/12619, WO 95/01426 and WO 25 96/00179. Appropriate conditions under which the treatment of the tobacco material, preferably in the form of a tobacco extract, with a phenol oxidising enzyme should occur, are selected paying regard 30 to the characteristics of the enzyme of choice, some typical conditions being listed below. Generally, of course any of these WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 25 condition can be optimized using simple trial-and-error experiments as is usual in the art. A generally preferred pH is pH 3-11, such as 4-9, 4-8, such as 5 4-7 or 5-6, such as, e.g. about 5.5. A generally preferred temperature is 10-90 0 C, such as 10-80 0 C, preferably 10-70 0 C, more preferably 15-60 0 C, 20-600C, 20-50 0 C, such as 30-600C. A generally preferred treatment time is 1 minute to 5 hours, such as 5 minutes to 5 hours, preferably 1 minute to 4 hours, 10 preferably 1 minute to 3 hours, such as 15 minutes to 3 hours, 1 minute to 1 hour, still more preferably 5 to 30 minutes. The concentration of oxygen as acceptor (relevant to the use of phenolic oxidases only, e.g., laccase) is generally not critical 15 for the reaction as such, except that at high dosages of enzyme the supply of oxygen and thus the concentration of oxygen in the liquor might be rate limiting. However, molecular oxygen from the atmosphere will usually be present in sufficient quantity so that oxygen can be supplied to the process by means of surface 20 aeration or intensive submerse aeration with atmospheric air. Alternatively, pure oxygen can be used for aeration. If the phenol oxidizing enzyme requires a source of hydrogen peroxide, the source may be hydrogen peroxide or a hydrogen 25 peroxide precursor for in situ production of hydrogen peroxide. Thus in one embodiment of the invention, treatment with peroxidase is performed in the presence of a hydrogen peroxide source. As used herein the term "treatment" in the context of peroxidase" encompasses the presence of a hydrogen peroxide 30 source whenever such a source is required. The term "a hydrogen peroxide source" means a source of hydrogen peroxide being it WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 26 hydrogen peroxide itself or a hydrogen peroxide precursor for in situ production of hydrogen peroxide. In following, non-limiting, examples, the treatment with 5 peroxidase is performed in the presence of a hydrogen peroxide source selected from the group consisting of (1) hydrogen peroxide, (2) a hydrogen peroxide precursor, e.g. percarbonate or perborate, (3) a hydrogen peroxide generating enzyme system, e.g. an oxidase and its substrate, e.g. glucose oxidase and 10 glucose, (4) and a peroxycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof. The hydrogen peroxide source may be added at the beginning of or during the process, e.g. in a concentration corresponding to 0.001-25 mM H 2 0 2 . The hydrogen peroxide source may be added continuously to maintain a substantially constant concentration 15 of hydrogen peroxide. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide as acceptor (relevant to the use of peroxidase only) is generally not critical. However, the selected peroxidase enzyme could be sensitive to hydrogen 20 peroxide (loose activity). Preferably the concentration range of hydrogen peroxide is 0.010-10mM, such as 0.020-8mM, 0.05-5mM, or 0.100-2.5mM. The appropriate range may depend on the enzyme in question and can be determined by the person skilled in the art. 25 Generally, a preferred dosage of the phenol oxidising enzyme is 0.001-1000 mg enzyme protein per litre of the extract (impregnation liquid), such as 0.001-500 mg, 0.001-200 mg, 0.001-100 mg, 0.001-50 mg, preferably 0.01-100 mg, such as 0.01 80 mg, 0.01-50 mg, 0.01-30 mg, 0.01-20, more preferably 0.1-20 30 mg/litre. Non-limiting examples of dosages of phenol modifying enzyme protein per dry weight of tobacco is 1-1000 pg/g, such as 10-500 pg/g, such as 150 pg/g. These dosage values are WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 27 preferably based on purified enzyme protein, purified being defined as indicated above. The phenol oxidising enzyme may be in any form suited for the 5 use in question, such as e.g. in the form of a dry powder or granulate, a non-dusting granulate, a liquid, a stabilized liq uid, or a protected enzyme. Granulates may be produced, e.g. as disclosed in US 4,106,991 and US 4,661,452 (both to Novo Indus try A/S), and may optionally be coated by methods known in the 10 art. Liquid enzyme preparations may, for instance, be stabilized by adding stabilizers such as a sugar, a sugar alcohol or an other polyol, lactic acid or another organic acid according to established methods. Protected enzymes may be prepared according to the method disclosed in EP 238,216. 15 According to the invention, it is essential that the tobacco material, preferably in the form of an aqueous extract, is treated with a phenol oxidising enzyme. 20 By "treatment" in the context of a "phenol oxidising enzyme" is meant the addition to a tobacco material, the material being preferably in the form of an aqueous extract, of an effective amount of a phenol oxidising enzyme under conditions which the enzyme exerts its oxidizing activity, i.e. oxidising a phenolic 25 compound from the tobacco material thereby providing an "oxidised phenolic compound". The term "treatment" in the context of a phenol oxidising enzyme and a tobacco material encompasses contacting a tobacco material 30 with a phenol oxidising enzyme under conditions which result in a reduction in the concentration of at least one phenolic compound in said material. By "contact" in the context of WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 28 "contacting a tobacco material with a phenol oxidising enzyme" is meant the addition of a phenol oxidising enzyme to a tobacco material. 5 Within the scope of the invention is a process for preparing a tobacco product, which process comprises (a) extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to provide an extraction mixture; and (b) separating the extraction mixture into a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue, contacting the tobacco 10 extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme, such as a phenolic oxidase or a peroxidase, under conditions which result in a reduction in the concentration of at least one phenolic compound in said extract. In one embodiment the contacting is performed during or after said extracting and before the separating. 15 By the term "effective amount" is to be understood an amount of enzyme which is effective in order to provide a tobacco product having a reduced content of a specific phenolic compound, such as an at least 10% reduction, at least 20%, at least 50%, at 20 least 75%, preferably 95 %, or even more preferred at least a 98% reduction, such as a 100 % reduction of the specific com pound. The %-reduction being calculated as indicated below. The term "a specific phenolic compound" encompasses that by the en zyme treatment of the tobacco material there is obtained a re 25 duction in the amount of at a phenolic compound in said mate rial. There may be a variation i the %-reduction for different phenolic compounds. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the reduction of each phenolic compound corresponds to a % reduction as indicated above. According to the invention, the 30 enzyme treatment of a tobacco material provides a reduction on the concentration of at least one phenolic compound of said to bacco material, such as reduction on the concentration of at WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 29 least two phenolic compounds or at least tree phenolic compounds in said tobacco material. In specific embodiments, the tobacco product obtained by a proc 5 ess according to the invention has a reduced content of at least one of chlorogenic acid, rutin or scopoletin, such as an at least 5% reduction, such as at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, preferably at least a 95 %, or even more preferred at 10 least 98% a reduction, such as a 100 % reduction in the content of chlorogenic acid, rutin or scopoletin, respectively, as com pared to the tobacco material before the treatment. The reduc tion may be monitored e.g. by HPLC analyses of extracts of the tobacco material before and after treatment with a phenol oxi 15 dising enzyme. The %-reduction being calculated as indicated be low. In further embodiments, by the process according to the inven tion - comprising 1) treatment with a phenol oxidising enzyme to 20 provide an oxidation of at least one phenolic compound in said tobacco material, 2) further comprising the step of separating the oxidised phenolic compound(s) from the tobacco material leads to a tobacco product having a reduced total content of phenolic compound. The reduction being e.g. at least a 5% reduc 25 tion, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 75%, at least a 80% reduction; such as a re duction in the range 2%-95%, 5%-80%, 5%-50%, 5%-40%, 5%-30%. Several methods of analysing for phenolic compounds are known in 30 the art. Some methods measures total phenolic content, while others differentiates between phenolic compounds having differ ent molecular weight, and still others allow separation of indi- WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 30 vidual (low molecular weight) phenolic compounds followed by quantification. Preferably is used an analysing method that al lows separation of individual phenolic compounds followed by quantification, e.g. HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, 5 also named High Performance Liquid Chromatography), GLC (Gas Liquid Chromatography also called Gas Chromatography) or capil lary electrophoresis, but other methods may be used as well. Such methods can by the person skilled in the art be designed, performed and optimized to fit and meet the requirements of the 10 analytical problem in question, i.e. to analyse the phenolic compound(s) in question. In general, there are two means of following the development in the content of the compounds in question; 1) absolute quantifi 15 cation by means of comparison of the resulting signal (e.g. peak area or peak height or similar) with the signal produced from a standard of know absolute concentration, or 2) relative quanti fication by comparing the size of the resulting signal produced by the individual phenolic compound, before, during, and after 20 the enzyme treatment, and use the development in the size of the signal to calculate the relative (that is the percentage) reduc tion of the individual phenolic compounds. The size of the re sulting signal will normally correlate with the concentration observed in the sample if an appropriate range of concentration 25 is examined (normally, this means that the concentration range used is in the range in which the signal correlates linearly with the concentration). Consequently, if the method of analysis allows separation of individual phenolic compounds and provided that the signal correlates with the concentration, it will be 30 possible to calculate the efficiency of the enzyme treatment without using any standards, by comparing the size of the signal before and after the treatment to calculate % remaining phenolic WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 31 compound and/or % phenolic compound removed (% reduction) using the following equations: Size of signal after treatment % Remaining - x 100 % Size of signal before treatment Size of signal before treatment - Size of signal after treatment %Reduction -. x100% Size of signal before treatment 5 In specific embodiments, the process of the invention, comprising treatment with a phenol oxidising enzyme, provides a tobacco material which by HPLC analysis of the tobacco material before and after the enzyme treatment shows reduction in a 10 signal (peaks), corresponding to a phenolic compound, monitored by HPLC analyses. This is preferably a %-reduction of at least 5%, such as at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, preferably at least 95 %, or even more preferred least 98%, such 15 as 100 %. This may be measured as described herein in the section "Examples". In a preferred embodiment, there is a reduction in at least one signal (i.e. at least one phenolic compound), such as at least 2 signals (i.e. at least two phenolic compounds). 20 In further aspect the invention relates to a process for reducing the concentration of at least one phenolic compound in a tobacco material, which process comprising treating tobacco material with a phenol modifying enzyme, said tobacco material 25 preferably being in the form of an extract of a tobacco material. Preferably, the modification of the enzyme facilitates the removal of the modified phenolic compound, thereby leading to a reduction in the total content of phenolic compounds in the tobacco material. In one embodiment of the invention the phenol 30 modifying enzyme is a phenol oxidising enzyme.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 32 (iv) separation of oxidized phenolic compound After the treatment with a phenol oxidising enzyme, step (i), 5 the process according to the invention preferably comprises the step of (iv) separating the oxidized phenolic compound from the tobacco extract. The term "oxidised phenolic compound" encompasses the phenolic compounds which has been oxidised by the treatment with an enzyme according to the invention. The 10 oxidised phenolic compound is preferably in a polymerised form. The oxidised phenolic compound is preferably in one or more of the forms precipitate, haze, dissolved or dispersed. Thus, a precipitate/haze may be generated during the treatment of tobacco extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme. The precipitate 15 comprising the oxidised polymerised phenolic compounds, is preferably separated from the extract. The precipitate/haze may be removed by any suitable method in the art, including, without limitation, centrifugation, 20 filtration, ultrafiltration, sedimentation, flocculation, reverse osmosis, decanting or sieving. A combination of different methods and/or a repetition of one or more of the methods may also be used. In a specific embodiment of the invention the adsorption is performed with an adsorption means 25 selected from the group consisting of Fuller's earth minerals such as attapulgite or bentonite, hydroxyapatite (tri-calcium phosphate), PVPP, an anion exchange resin, a cation exchange resin, a hydrophobic resin and activated carbon, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the process of the 30 invention includes an adsorption step using, first, bentonite, which is followed by an adsorption step using hydroxy apatite (tri-calcium phopshate). Preferably, ultrafiltration is used, in WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 33 particular for the dissolved or dispersed polymerised oxidised phenolic compounds. Optionally, the extract is also treated with an insoluble 5 adsorbent, step (vii), preferably a water insoluble adsorbent. Examples of suitable insoluble adsorbents are hydroxyapatite (tri-calciumphophate) and Fuller's earth minerals such as attapulgite or bentonite. This step serves i.a. to remove soluble polypeptides such as proteins including the enzyme, as 10 well as the polymerized phenolic reaction products of step (i). Preferred insoluble adsorbents are bentonite and hydroxylapatite. The adsorbent can be simply suspended in the extract and subsequently separated by e.g. centrifugation, or it can be contained in a column through which the extract flows. 15 In specific embodiment the extract is treated with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP), step (viii). In other embodiments, the treatment with PVPP is omitted. 20 By treatment in the context of an adsorbent is meant contacting the extract with an adsorbent under conditions facilitating the adsorbtions, followed by the removal of the adsorbent if desired, the adsorbent being preferably an insoluble adsorbent. 25 One embodiment of the invention relates to the removal of the modified phenolic compounds, the modified phenolic compound provided by treatment with a phenol modifying enzyme as described herein. 30 In one embodiment of the invention, the enzyme treatment is per formed on an extraction mixture. The oxidised phenolic compounds is preferably separated from the extraction mixture, i.e. from WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 34 tobacco solids ("tobacco residue") as well as the liquid part ("tobacco extract"). This separation may be done by first making a crude separation, e.g. by filtration, that allows the solvent and the oxidised phenolic compounds, which may have formed a 5 precipitate and/or haze, to be separated from the tobacco resi due. The choice of method for separation is not critical as long as it allow to distinguish between the tobacco residue suspended in the solvent and the solid precipitate/haze that may have been formed by the oxidised phenolic compounds. The thus separated 10 tobacco residue may be rinsed with water to remove additional oxidised phenolic compounds. The filtrate containing the oxi dised phenolic compounds which will probably be present as a fine precipitate, and/or haze, and/or as oxidised phenolic com pounds in colloidal solution, may be further processed to sepa 15 rate the oxidised phenolic compounds from the extract. This may be done by means of separation such as filtration, centrifuga tion, ultra filtration, sedimentation etc. as already described herein. 20 Inactivating and/or removal of the enzyme, step (v) Following the treatment with phenol oxidising enzyme, the phenol oxidising enzyme, may optionally be inactivated (e.g., by heating to 100 0 C and holding this temperature for, e.g., 10 minutes) and/or removed (e.g., by adsorption or precipitation) 25 by any method suitable for inactivation and/or denaturation and/or precipitation and/or removing the particular enzyme in question). The enzyme may be removed together with the precipitated oxidised phenolic compounds, e.g. by adsorption as described for the removal of the oxidised phenolic compounds. In 30 one embodiment of the invention, ultrafiltration is used for removal of the enzyme. Accordingly, the process of the invention in one embodiment comprises the step of inactivating and/or WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 35 removing the phenol oxidising enzyme from an enzyme treated tobacco material, said tobacco material being, e.g., in the form of a tobacco extract. 5 In one embodiment, the enzyme used is immobilised and is easily and quantitatively removed, thereby facilitating the product of the invention to be substantially free from the added phenol oxidising enzyme. Common techniques for immobilisation of enzymes are known in the art and include, without limitation, 10 adsorption, covalent bonding and cross-linking onto carrier materials such as ion-exchange resins, artificial polymers, e.g. nylon, polyethylene imine, polystyrene, methacrylate, naturally occurring biopolymers and derivatives thereof, e.g. chitin, chitosan, glyceryl chitosan, cellulose and derivatives thereof, 15 e.g., DEAE-cellulose, (ground/crushed-) egg shells, inorganic materials, e.g. SiO 2 , glass beads, bentonite, and other insoluble supports, as well as encapsulation in gels or (micro)capsules prepared from polymers. Typically, immobilised enzymes exhibit little or even no leakage of enzyme during use, 20 resulting in a liquid fraction with no or very little enzyme when separated from the immobilised enzyme particles. A very specific and sensitive method for quantification of the amount of leaked enzyme is the use of immobilized enzyme which has been radioactively labelled prior to immobilisation, e.g. by 25 methylation of lysine residues in the protein backbone by means of reaction with " 4 C-formaldehyde. Some examples of immobilisation of enzymes are disclosed in Pialis, P. et al. (1996), Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 51, page 141-147; Bhosale S.H. et al. (1996), Microbiological Reviews, 60(2), page 30 280-300; Spagna G. et al. (1993), Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 57, page 379-385; Spagna G. et al. (1998), Process Biochemistry, 33(1), page 57-62; Martino A. et al.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 36 (1996), Process Biochemistry, 31(3), page 281-285; and Martino A. et al. (1996), Process Biochemistry, 31(3), page 287-293. If the enzyme treatment of a tobacco extract is performed using 5 immobilised enzymes, a preferred way of separating the oxidised phenolic compounds, which may have produced a precipitate/haze, from the immobilised enzyme solids, as well as the solvent, is to first make a crude separation, e.g. a filtration, that allows the solvent and the oxidised phenolic compounds, which may have 10 formed a precipitate and/or haze, to be separated from the immo bilised enzyme. The choice of method for separation is not critical as long as it allow to distinguish between the immobi lised enzyme suspended in the solvent and the solid precipi tate/haze that may have been formed by the oxidised phenolic 15 compounds. The thus separated immobilised enzyme may be rinsed with water to remove additional oxidised phenolic compounds prior to its possible re-use. The filtrate containing the oxi dised phenolic compounds which will probably be present as a fine precipitate, a haze, and/or as oxidised phenolic compounds 20 in colloidal solution, may be further treated to separate the extract from the oxidised phenolic compounds. This may be done by means of separation such as filtration, centrifugation, ultra filtration, sedimentation etc., as already described herein. 25 In one embodiment, the treatment by immobilised enzymes of the tobacco extract is performed in a column comprising the immobi lised enzymes by passing the tobacco extract thought said col umn, preferably using down-flow. To prevent blockage of the col umn by the possible precipitates formed, the direction of the 30 flow may be change to up-flow with intervals to fluidize and thus rinse and remove any precipitate/haze formed. In another embodiment, the phenol oxidising enzyme-treatment of a tobacco WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 37 extract in column containing immobilised enzymes is done using the principle of fluidized bed utilising the differences in par ticle size and density of the immobilised enzyme particles and the precipitate/haze formed to continuously treat the extract 5 and separate the oxidised phenolic compounds forming a precipi tate/haze from the enzyme. Concentrating the extract, step (vi) Optionally, the enzyme-treated extract is concentrated to a 10 solids content of between 10-70%, such as 20-50%, typically 50% (dry matter). To this any conventional method of removing essentially only liquid, preferably in the form of water, can be used, such as reverse osmosis, ultra-filtration with low molecular weight cut-off, evaporation or freeze-concentration. 15 However, if desirable for the process, the tobacco extract can be dried to a solid (e.g. having a solid content of 90-100%, such as 100% dry weight) by means of conventional drying processes, such as freeze-drying, spray-drying or evaporation. Optionally, first a concentration step is made by a normal 20 procedure for concentrating liquids, followed by a drying step by normal procedures. Combining extract with a tobacco material Preferably, any result of any of the processes described above 25 for the treatment of the extract, is finally re-combined with the tobacco residue (step (ix)), which may or may not have been further processed or treated e.g. by drying or by extraction with an organic solvent, to provide an improved resulting tobacco product. In fact, the treated extract may be combined 30 with any tobacco solid, but advantageously it is a tobacco solid with a low content of phenolic compounds, such as a tobacco WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 38 residue resulting from an extraction process as described herein. Thus, the enzyme treated tobacco extract may be recombined with 5 a tobacco solid, such as the tobacco residue, typically by spraying back the extract onto the tobacco residue, but the choice of method is not critical as any method suitable for recombining extract and a tobacco solid can be used. Optionally, having recombined the tobacco solid, such as the tobacco 10 residue, and the tobacco extract, the recombined tobacco is dried by conventional methods. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the treated tobacco extract is combined with a green tobacco, i.e. uncured 15 tobacco, which may be used for tobacco chewing gum or the treated extract may be used to enrich the flavour of green tobacco by spraying tobacco extract on green tobacco leaves, see, e.g., US 5,845,647. 20 Alternatively, the enzyme treated extract may be recombined with other materials, such as cigarette paper, cigarette filters, tobacco cover sheets, or any other material than the tobacco residue, which will later be combined with the tobacco residue to make up the final tobacco product. Alternatively, if the 25 tobacco extract is dried to a solid content of e.g. 90-100%, such as 100% (dry weight) and thus essentially is to be regarded as a solid, the dried tobacco extract may be recombined with the tobacco residue or with other materials, such as cigarette paper, cigarette filters, tobacco cover sheets to make up the 30 final enzyme treated tobacco material, by direct blending/mixing of the dried tobacco extract with the material in question, if WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 39 necessary mixed with additional binders, e.g. starch, to make the dried extract stick to the material. Proteolytic treatment, step (x) 5 In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tobacco is also treated with a proteolytic enzyme, step (x). In one embodiment of the invention, the tobacco material is 10 first extracted with an aqueous solvent without the presence of enzymes, whether they are phenol oxidising enzymes or proteolytic enzymes, and preferably without surfactants. The extraction mixture is separated and the aqueous extract treated with a phenol oxidising enzyme, while the residue is subjected 15 to a further extraction with a solvent comprising a protease and optionally a surfactant. The enzymatic treated extract and residue may subsequently be combined. Accordingly, the process of the invention may comprise a step where the tobacco material or the tobacco residue has been treated with a protease before 20 the combination with an extract treated with a phenol oxidising enzyme. In another embodiment, the tobacco material to be treated with a phenol oxidising enzyme is a protease treated tobacco material, 25 thus being a tobacco material with a reduced content of protein. In further embodiments of the invention, the solvent for extraction may comprise a protease. If step (x) of proteolytic treatment is included, it is 30 preferred that the process of the invention further comprises the step of removing the protease in order to provide a tobacco product substantially free from the protease in question. In a WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 40 preferred embodiment of the invention, both a laccase and a protease are used in the preparation of a tobacco product. The proteolytic enzyme, if used, is preferably chosen from the 5 group comprising bacterial and fungal enzymes. Of most interest for the purpose of this invention are the enzymes used commer cially in the food and detergent industries which are available at low cost. Thus, Savinase.TM., Neutrase.TM., Enzobake.TM. or Alcalase.TM. available from Novo Inc. have been found to be ef 10 fective for protein removal from tobacco. The proteolytic en zymes may be added to the solution in the concentration range 0.0001%-5% w/w, such as 0.1%-5% w/w of the tobacco material. Sequence of steps 15 In preferred embodiments of the invention step (ii) is performed before any of the following steps. In a particular preferred embodiment step (ii) followed by step (iii) is performed before any of the following step. 20 Step (i), however, may be performed immediately after step: (ii) or e.g. following step (iii), (vii), (viii) or (vi). Any of steps (v), (vi), (vii) or (viii) can be included in the 25 process, in whatever sequence. They can be included once or repeated several times. They preferably always follow step (ii) and (iii), however. In a preferred embodiment, step (vii) follows step (i). In a 30 further preferred embodiment, step (viii) is not included. If included, step (viii) preferably follows steps (i) and (vii). In another preferred embodiment, step (v) is not included. If WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 41 included, step (v) always follows step (i), and preferably also step (vii). In a still further preferred embodiment, step (vi) is the final step. 5 Embodiments of the process of the invention include steps A: (ii), (iii), (i), (vii) and (vi); or B: (ii), (iii), (i), (vii),(v) and (vi); or C: (ii), (iii), (i), (vii), (viii), (v) and (vi); or D: (ii), (iii), (i), (iv); or 10 E: (ii), (iii), (i), (iv), (vi); or F: (ii), (i), (iv), (v), (vi); or G: (ii), (iii), (i), (iv), (v), (vi); or H: (ii), (iii), (i), (v), (vi) in the sequence indicated. 15 In a particularly preferred embodiment, the process according to the invention further comprises the step of making a tobacco article for smoking. 20 Thus in a preferred embodiment the process of the invention includes the following steps in the sequence indicated: (ii) extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to provide an extraction mixture; (iii) separating the extraction mixture into 25 a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue; (i) treating the extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme; (iv) separating the oxidised phenolic compound from the tobacco extract; (vi) concentrating the extract; combining the thus treated extract with the tobacco residue; and preparing a tobacco article for 30 smoking from the combined residue and extract. In a specific embodiment, the process also comprises the step (v) of removing the enzyme, e.g., before step (vi).

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 42 According to the process of the invention, there is provided a process for preparing a tobacco product with a reduced amount of phenolic compounds, which process comprises the step of treating 5 a tobacco material with a phenol oxidising enzyme. In particular there is provided a method for reducing the amount of phenolic compounds in a tobacco material comprising treating an extract of a tobacco material with a phenol oxidising enzyme. 10 The invention further relates to the use of a phenol oxidising enzyme in the treatment of a tobacco extract. A specific embodiment of the invention relates to the use of a phenol oxidising enzyme in the preparation of a tobacco product, where said phenol oxidising enzyme is not monophenol monooxygenase (EC 15 1.14.18.1). Of particular interest is the use of a laccase in the preparation of a tobacco product. An even more preferred embodiment of the invention is the use of both a phenol 20 oxidising enzyme, preferably a laccase, and a protease in the preparation of a tobacco product. The present invention relates to a tobacco material obtainable, in particular obtained, by any of the processes described 25 herein. The invention thus encompasses the final, ready-for-use tobacco products, as well as any extracts of a tobacco material having been treated by any of the processes of the invention. Within the scope of the inveniton is a modified tobacco product 30 having a reduced concentration of at least one phenolic compound relative to a tobacco material from which it is derived, wherein said product is produced by any of the herein described proc- WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 43 esses comprising the step of treating, i.e. contacting, a to bacco material with a phenol oxidizing enzyme. In further aspects, the invention relates to a method for 5 producing a tobacco product having an improved customer compliance, such as, e.g., a tobacco product according to the invention which gives the consumer an improved smoking pleasure. The invention thus relates to the use of a process according to the invention to provide a tobacco product having, e.g., a 10 modified chemical composition, flavour, aroma, taste and/or colour. The following examples are provided in order to further illustrate the invention but should not be construed as limiting 15 the scope thereof. EXAMPLES Materials 20 Tobacco material: Virginia flue-cured tobacco (obtainable from Imperial Tobacco Ltd). Approx. 85% d.m. (dry matter), stored at 4oC. 25 Laccase: Liquid preparation of Trametes villosa laccase (TvL) (previously called Polyporus pinsitus laccase (PpL)), obtainable from Novo Nordisk A/S. The laccase can be prepared as disclosed in WO96/00290 (the laccase enzyme called lacl from a strain with pDSY10). Liquid preparation of Myceliopthora thermophila laccase 30 (MtL) (obtainable from Novo Nordisk A/S). All of the enzymes were in a purified form.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 44 Standards: Scopoletin (Aldrich #24,658-1), Chlorogenic acid (Merck #820319), Rutin (Aldrich #R230-3) and Nicotine (Aldrich 24, 658-1). 5 Methods and procedures: HPLC analysis of phenolic compounds in tobacco extract and in solid tobacco (the latter via special extraction procedure as in dicated under sample pre-treatment - solid tobacco): 10 The content of phenolic compounds is analysed by HPLC according to the procedure described below: Liquid chromatographic system: E.g. Shimadzu SCL-6B System Con 15 troller, and two LC-6A Liquid Chromatograph (pumps) or Waters model 600 E Injector: Shimadzu SIL 6B Autoinjector or Waters 715 Ultra Wisp. UV detector: Shimadzu SPD-6A Photodiode Array UV-VIS detector or Waters Model 481 20 Software: CLASS LC10 / CLASS-MXA or Maxima 820 Column: SupelcosilTM LC-18 25 cm x 4.6 mm (Supelco, #5-8298) or p Bondapack C198 stainless steel column, 30 cm x 4 mm i.d., 10 pm particle size. Guard column: none or Guard-Pak from Waters packed with the same 25 material. Temperature: Ambient Mobile phase flow: 1.3 ml/min Injection volume: 20pl Wavelength: 350 nm 30 Eluent: Binary gradient (linear) mixture of A: KH 2

PO

4 (28.4 g in 2000 ml de-mineralised water) and B: methanol (please see table 1 WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 45 and figure 1). The eluent is filtered through a 0.45 pm filter and degassed before use. Minutes T-flow A-conc B-conc 0 1.3 86% 14% 17 1.3 56% 44% 30 1.3 56% 44% 31 1.3 86% 14% 35 1.3 86% 14% Table 1: A binary (linear) gradient profile used for the 5 HPLC analysis of phenolic compounds. Sample pre-treatment for HPLC - Tobacco extract: Prior to HPLC analysis, the samples were filtered through a 0.45 10 pm filter or smaller, e.g. a sterile Sartorius Minisart 0.45 pm filter (#16555) or a Millipore Millex-GS 0.22 pm (#SBGS 0 25 SB) to remove the haze/precipitate normally formed during enzyme treatment. Normally, no dilution of the extract/sample was made before HPLC analysis. 15 Sample pre-treatment for HPLC - solid tobacco: The tobacco is dried and sieved before analysis. The tobacco is dried at 65 0 C for 15 hours and sieved through a 40-80 meshscreen. 100-200 mg tobacco is weighed accurately into a 50 ml flask with 20 septum. 5 ml of a 1:1 mixture of water and methanol and extracted in an ultrasonic bath for 20 minutes with occasional shaking. Temperature of the water in the ultrasonic bath is checked and ice is added if necessary to keep the water at room temperature. The extraction liquor is filtered through a 0.45 pm filter or 25 smaller and is then ready for analysis of phenolic compounds.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 46 Standards used in HPLC: Scopoletin, Chlorogenic, Rutin and Nicotine. For qualitative and semi-quantitative measurements, each of the 5 standards was dissolved in 96% ethanol, and then mixed in a ratio and at a concentration which was within the range in the tobacco extract. For semi-quantification of the phenolic compounds in the tobacco extract, and as a measure of development in concentration of the various compounds contained in the extract, decrease in 10 peak area relative to the peak area before addition of enzyme was used. As a measure of overall efficiency of the process, degree of reduction in total peak area of all peaks (not only the major ones) in the HPLC chromatogram with retention time Rt>3 min was used (named: "All peaks"). 15 For quantitative measurements the following standards were made in the extracting solution: Chlorogenic acid: 20 mg/ml; Sco poletin: 1 mg/ml; Rutin: 0.75 mg/ml. 20 Determination of Sugars and Nicotine in tobacco: The reducing sugars and the nicotine content of tobacco samples and freeze-dried tobacco extracts were determined using continu ous flow analysis methods similar to the CORESTA (France, Coop eration Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco) rec 25 ommended methods No 35 and No 37. The total sugars were obtained after a hydrolysis step but the method is similar to the reducing sugars method. Preparation of tobacco extract for enzyme treatment: 30 Unless otherwise indicated, the tobacco was extracted at a labo ratory scale with water according to the following procedure: WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 47 1000 ml demineralised water is heated to 45 0 C. 30 g tobacco (approx. 25 g d.m.) is added and the mixture stirred by a mag netic bar and occasionally with a stick. After 15 minutes the to bacco residue is separated from the tobacco extract by vacuum 5 filtration (Whatman glass micro fibre GF/F 11 cm). The filtered extract is then vacuum filtered at least once more or until it is completely clear. Yield was around 900 ml tobacco extract. The aqueous tobacco extract appeared as a red-brown liquor with a distinct smell of tobacco. pH of the tobacco extract was in 10 the range 5.4-5.5 and it had a good buffering capacity as pH was very stable during processing and later enzyme treatment. No buffer was thus included in any of the trials. D.m. content of the extract was approximately 2.1%. 15 Enzyme treatment: Unless otherwise indicated, the enzyme treatment of the tobacco extract was performed at a laboratory scale according to the fol lowing procedure: 20 Tobacco extract (typically 50-100 ml) was poured into a glass beaker and a magnetic bar was added. No pH adjustments were made, and no buffer was added. The tobacco extract was heated to and controlled at 55 0 C during the entire enzyme treatment by means of a heating plate and a thermostat. Intensive submerse aeration was 25 applied by blowing atmospheric air into the extract by means of a metal sinter (metal suction filter normally used for HPLC). The enzyme in question (TvL or PpL) was added to the desired concen tration. Shortly after addition of laccase, the colour of the to bacco extract turned dark brown to black, and with time the liq 30 uor became turbid and a precipitate formed. The liquor was sam pled with intervals for HPLC analysis.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 48 EXAMPLE 1 Effect of laccase on scopoletin, rutin, chlorogenic acid and nicotine 5 Materials Tobacco constituents: Nicotine, Chlorogenic acid, Rutin and Sco poletin. Enzyme: Purified laccase derived from Trametes villosa, TvL. Apparatus: HP8452 UV/Vis diode array spectrophotometer, 1 cm quarts cuvette. Buffer: Sodium acetate (Merck) 10 Method 10 mM acetate buffer was prepared from sodium acetate adjusted to pH 5.0 with sulphuric acid. Stock solution of 0.50 mg/ml in 96% ethanol was prepared of nicotine, chlorogenic acid, rutin, 15 and scopoletin. A stock solution of 0.31 mg enzyme protein/ml of laccase in de-mineralised water was prepared. The HP diode array spectrophotometer was operated as per the manufacturer's in structions. A 1 cm quartz cuvette was used. As a blank was used 950pl buffer mixed with 50pl 96% ethanol. In a 1 cm quart cu 20 vette was mixed 900pl 10 mM acetate buffer and 50pl of the stock solution of the compound in question. A spectrum of the "native" compound was recorded in the range 190-700 nm. 50pl of TvL stock solution was added and carefully mixed, and spectra in the range 190-700 nm were recorded every 20 seconds for 5 minutes. This 25 resultet in the following conditions during measurement: 9 mM Na-acetate buffer pH 5.0; 4.8% Ethanol; 0.025 mg/ml of tobacco constituent; 0.016 mg/ml laccase. Results 30 See Figs. 2-5. No spectral changes (peak position and peak rela tive height) were observed when nicotine was treated with lac case, while significant spectral changes were observed when WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 49 chlorogenic acid, rutin, and scopoletin were treated with lac case. This means that the latter compounds are substrates for laccase. 5 EXAMPLE 2 Laccase TvL treatment of tobacco extract Enzyme treatment: Surface aeration was used. TvL enzyme was added 10 to the tobacco extract to a concentration of approximately 1.6 pg/ml. The HPLC analyses of the tobacco extract before, during, and after enzyme treatment showed that the phenolic compounds ru tin, scopoletin, and chlorogenic acid are present in the tobacco extract in addition to various other compounds as indicated in 15 table 2. HPLC chromatograms of the tobacco extract before, dur ing, and after enzyme treatment as well as chromatograms of the mixture of HPLC standards are shown in figure 6, 7, ,8, and 9. 20 Furthermore a significant reduction in the number of peaks as well as in the area of the peaks have been obtained following en zyme treatment, including the phenolic compounds rutin, sco poletin, and chlorogenic acid, i.e. there is a reduction in the content of these compounds.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 50 Retention time Identity (Minutes) 5.1 ? 6.3 Chlorogenic acid (CA) 8.5 ? 10.5 ? 13.6 ? 16.8 Scopoletin (S) 21.5 Rutin (R) 24.9 ? Table 2: Retention time of the 8 major peaks in the HPLC chromatogram of the aqueous tobacco extract. 5 EXAMPLE 3 Laccase TvL treatment of tobacco extract at dif ferent pH Enzyme treatment: pH of the extract was adjusted with H 2

SO

4 or NaOH to pH 4, pH 5, pH 6, or pH 7. The extract was kept at ambi 10 ent temperature (approximately 20 0 C) during the entire enzyme treatment. Surface aeration was used. TvL enzyme was added to a concentration of approximately 1.6 pg/ml. Except for the tobacco extract adjusted to pH 7 the liquor became turbid and a precipi tate formed with time after the addition of enzyme. The results 15 are shown in table 3. From table 3 it is evident, that signifi cant reduction in peak area for all peaks was obtained. From an overall point of view optimum pH at the conditions used is in the range pH 5-6. 20 The "natural" pH of flue-cured tobacco extract is 5.4-5.5, which thus fits very well with the optimum pH. Buffering capacity of WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 51 the tobacco raw extract seemed to be quite good, as pH did not drift more than 0.1 unit in any of the trials. 5 Table 3.1-3: pH profile for reduction in peak area for tobacco extract treated with 1.6 ig/ml TvL at ambient temperature and surface aeration for various periods of time in the pH range pH 4 - pH 7. 10 % Remaining (peak area) after 0 minutes. Rt time ID pH 4 pH 5 pH 6 pH 7 (Minutes) % % % % 5.1 ? 100 100 100 100 6.3 CA 100 100 100 100 8.5 ? 100 100 100 100 10.5 ? 100 100 100 100 13.6 ? 100 100 100 100 16.8 S 100 100 100 100 21.5 R 100 100 100 100 24.9 ? 100 100 100 100 Table 3.1. % Remaining (peak area) after 0 minutes. 15 CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 52 % Remaining (peak area) after 75 minutes. Rt time ID pH 4 pH 5 pH 6 pH 7 (Minutes) % % % % 5.1 ? 23 25 30 103 6.3 CA 5 11 22 94 8.5 ? 7 16 29 100 10.5 ? 82 90 105 120 13.6 ? 41 41 46 127 16.8 S 89 94 96 100 21.5 R 44 29 14 87 24.9 ? 92 76 36 90 Table 3.2. % Remaining (peak area) after 75 minutes. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin % Remaining (peak area) after 240 minutes. Rt time ID pH 4 pH 5 pH 6 pH 7 (Minutes) % % % % 5.1 ? 10 0 0 115 6.3 CA 0 0 0 85 8.5 ? 0 0 0 97 10.5 ? 86 87 84 106 13.6 ? 0 0 0 113 16.8 S 58 12 6 112 21.5 R 0 0 0 63 24.9 ? 58 10 0 69 5 Table 3.3. % Remaining (peak area) after 0 minutes. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin EXAMPLE 4 Laccase TvL treatment of tobacco extract at two 10 different enzyme concentrations and different processing times WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 53 Enzyme treatment: TvL enzyme was added to a concentration of ap proximately 1.6 pg/ml or to a concentration of approximately 7.8 pg/ml. The results are shown in table 4 and table 5. It is evi dent, that using a dosage of TvL of 1.6 pg/ml, a longer process 5 ing time is needed compared to using a dosage of 7.8 pg/ml to ob tain the same degree of reduction of the phenolic compounds. 1.6 pg/ml % Remaining (peak area) after various TvL treatment times Rt time ID 0 Min 40 Min 80 Min 120 Min (Minutes) % % % % 5.1 ? 100% 28% 0% 0% 6.3 CA 100% 23% 0% 0% 8.5 ? 100% 32% 4% 3% 10.5 ? 100% 97% 87% 86% 13.6 ? 100% 53% 0% 0% 16.8 S 100% 82% 30% 12% 21.5 R 100% 20% 0% 0% 24.9 ? 100% 47% 0% 0% 10 Table 4: Time profile for reduction (% remaining) in peak area for tobacco extract treated with approximately 1.6 pg/ml TvL at 55 0 C and pH 5.4 using intensive, submerse aeration. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin 15 WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 54 % Remaining (peak area) after various treatment times Rt time ID 0 Min 40 Min (Minutes) % % 5.1 ? 100% 0% 6.3 CA 100% 0% 8.5 ? 100% 0% 10.5 ? 100% 72% 13.6 ? 100% 0% 16.8 S 100% 3% 21.5 R 100% 0% 24.9 ? 100% 7% Table 5: Time profile for reduction (% remaining) in peak area for tobacco extract treated with approximately 5 7.8pg/ml TvL at 55 0 C and pH 5.4 using intensive, submerse aeration. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin 10 EXAMPLE 5 Laccase MtL treatment of tobacco extract at two different enzyme concentration and different processing time Enzyme treatment: MtL enzyme was added to a concentration of ap proximately 0.63 pg/ml or approximately 6.3 pg/ml. The results 15 are shown in table 6 and table 7. It is obvious, that MtL can also be used to remove the phenolic compounds. It is evident, that using a dosage of MtL of approximately 0.63 pg/ml, longer processing time is needed compared to using a dosage of 6.3 pg/ml to obtain the same degree of reduction of the phenolic compounds, 20 and that almost complete removal can be obtained with a dosage of approximately 0.63 pg/ml.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 55 0.63 pg/ml % Remaining (peak area) after various MtL treatment times Rt time (Minutes) ID 0 min 67 min 150 min 5.1 ? 100% 36% 0% 6.3 CA 100% 29% 0% 8.5 ? 100% 37% 0% 10.5 ? 100% 83% 77% 13.6 ? 100% 33% 0% 16.8 S 100% 90% 76% 21.5 R 100% 24% 0% 24.9 ? 100% 51% 9% All peaks (R,>3 min) 100% 36% 5% Table 6: Residual amount (peak area) following treatment 5 with approx. 0.63 pg/ml MtL at pH 5.4 and 55 0 C and intensive submerse aeration for various processing times. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 56 6,3 pg/ml MtL % Remaining (peak area) after various treatment times Rt time (Minutes) ID 0 min 10 min 20 min 5.1 ? 100% 0% 0% 6.3 CA 100% 0% 0% 8.5 ? 100% 0% 0% 10.5 ? 100% 77% 72% 13.6 ? 100% 0% 0% 16.8 S 100% 78% 52% 21.5 R 100% 0% 0% 24.9 ? 100% 24% 7% All peaks (Rt>3 min) 100% 6% 5% Table 7: Residual amount (% remaining) (peak area) follow 5 ing treatment with approx. 6.3 pg/ml MtL at pH 5.4 and 55 0 C and intensive submerse aeration for various processing times. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin 10 EXAMPLE 6 Laccase MtL treatment of tobacco extract with different enzyme concentrations Enzyme treatment: MtL enzyme was added at various concentrations in the range 2.5 pg/ml - 6.3 pg/ml. A fixed processing time of 20 15 minutes was used. After addition of laccase (but varying with the dosage applied) with time the liquor became turbid and a precipi tate formed. The results are shown in table 8. It is obvious, that with increasing dosage of MtL decreasing processing time is needed to remove the phenolic compounds, and that almost complete 20 removal can be obtained in less than 20 minutes.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 57 pg MtL /ml Rt ID 0 2.5 3.8 6.3 5.1 ? 100% 10% 0% 0% 6.3 CA 100% 6% 0% 0% 8.6 ? 100% 11% 0% 0% 10.5 ? 100% 84% 73% 72% 13.6 ? 100% 10% 0% 0% 16.8 S 100% 97% 69% 52% 21.5 R 100% 5% 0% 0% 24.9 ? 100% 36% 12% 7% All peaks (R,>3 minutes) 100% 20% 5% 5% Table 8: Residual amount (% remaining) (peak area) fol lowing treatment with various enzyme dosages for 20 min 5 utes at pH 5.4 and 55 0 C and intensive submerse aeration using MtL. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin 10 EXAMPLE 7 Laccase treatment of extract at different pO 2 Enzyme treatment: An oxygen electrode was immersed in the liquor, and p0 2 (100% = saturation with atmospheric air) measured and controlled at the desired level by blowing atmospheric air and/or 15 N 2 into the extract by means of a metal sinter (metal suction filter normally used for HPLC). MtL enzyme was added at a concen tration of approximately 3.8 pg/ml. A fixed processing time of 20 minutes was used. After (but depending on the level of pO 2 ) addi tion of laccase with time the liquor became turbid and a precipi 20 tate formed. The results are shown in table 9. It is evident, that at the conditions used, efficiency increases with increasing pO 2 . At the conditions used oxygen is rate limiting if pO 2 < 90%.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 58 % p02 Rt ID 0 30 50 90 5.1 ? 100% 25% 2% 0% 6.3 CA 100% 20% 1% 0% 8.5 ? 100% 27% 0% 0% 10.5 ? 100% 78% 74% 74% 13.6 ? 100% 53% 0% 0% 16.8 S 100% 75% 59% 45% 21.5 R 100% 17% 1% 0% 24.9 ? 100% 50% 25% 10% All peaks (Rt>3 minutes) 100% 28% 7% 5% Table 9: Residual amount (% remaining) (peak area) follow ing treatment with 3.8 pg/ml for 20 minutes at pH 5.4 and 55 0 C at various levels of pO 2 . 5 CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin EXAMPLE 8 Laccase and bentonite treatment of tobacco 10 Centrifugation: Beckman J-6B centrifuge equipped with JS-4.2 ro tor. 1 Litre containers were used. Operated at 4200 rpm (approximately 5000 x g) for 10 minutes at room temperature. Freeze drying: Heto SICC CD 40. The extracts were frozen at 450C, and temperature gradually increased to 200C during drying 15 at 3 mbar. Procedure: A flow chart showing which samples have been prepared is shown in figure 10. 20 Extraction of Tobacco: The tobacco was extracted at a laboratory scale with water ac cording to the following procedure: 15 Litres de-mineralised wa- WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 59 ter is heated to 45-460C. 450 g tobacco (approx. 380 g d.m.) is added and the mixture is stirred manually with a stick. After 15 minutes the tobacco residue is separated from the aqueous tobacco extract by vacuum filtration. The tobacco residue was freeze 5 dried and labelled "2: Freeze Dried Extracted Tobacco Residue". The tobacco extract was centrifuged for 10 min at approx. 5000 x g to remove suspended particles/haze. Yield was around 13.5 Li tres. The aqueous tobacco extract appeared as a red-brown liquor 10 with a distinct smell of tobacco. pH of the tobacco extract was 5.5 and apparently it had quite a good buffering capacity as pH was very stable during processing and later enzyme treatment. No pH adjustment was made prior to enzyme processing, and no buffer was added. D.m. content of tobacco extract was approximately 1.4 15 % (approximately 10 g tobacco extract dried at 120 0 C until con stant weight for at least 120 s). A sample of the tobacco ex tract was analysed by means of HPLC. 1.5 L of the tobacco extract was freeze dried and labelled "3: Tobacco Extract". 20 Enzyme treatment: 6 L tobacco extract was heated to and controlled at 53-56 0 C by means of a heating plate and a thermostat. Atmospheric air was blown into the liquor through a silicone tube (12 mm diameter) which had been perforated with a needle to create numerous small 25 wholes. Aeration was sufficiently intense that no further mixing was needed as the air blown into the liquor lead to efficient mixing. MtL was added to a final concentration of approximately 7.5 pg/ml. After 30 minutes, a sample was collected and analysed by means of HPLC. 30 After 30 minutes 3 L of the "enzyme treated tobacco extract" was centrifuged for 10 minutes at approx. 5000 x g. The supernatant WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 60 was collected by decanting and was completely clear. A sample was analysed by means of HPLC. D.m. content was approximately 1.5 % (approximately 10 g extract dried at 120'C until constant weight for at least 120 s). The supernatant was freeze dried and la 5 belled "4: Enzyme Treated Tobacco Extract Separated from Precipi tate". The "precipitate from enzyme treated tobacco extract" (solid ma terial containing a little extract) was suspended in de 10 mineralised water and collected from the containers and freeze dried and labelled 5: Precipitate From Enzyme Treated Tobacco Ex tract. Bentonite treatment: 15 The remaining 3 L of the 6 L "enzyme treated extract" was treated with bentonite (Aldrich #28,523-4): 3 g bentonite was suspended in approx. 200 ml "enzyme treated extract". The extract/bentonite slurry was recombined with the remaining enzyme treated extract and incubated at 50-550C for 15 minutes during stirring. After 15 20 minutes, a sample was analysed by means of HPLC. After 15 minutes the enzyme treated and bentonite treated extract was centrifuged for 10 minutes at approximately 5000 x g. The su pernatant was collected by decanting and was completely clear. A 25 sample of the supernatant was analysed by means of HPLC. D.m. content of the supernatant was approximately 1.5 % (approximately 10 g extract dried at 1200C until constant weight for at least 120 s). The supernatant was freeze dried and la belled "6: Enzyme- and Bentonite Treated Tobacco Extract Sepa 30 rated from Precipitate and Bentonite".

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 61 The precipitate (solid material containing enzyme generated pre cipitate as well as bentonite and a little extract) was suspended in de-mineralised water and collected from the containers, freeze dried, and labelled "7: Precipitate from Enzyme- and Bentonite 5 Treated Tobacco Extract". In table 10 the results from the HPLC analysis of phenolic com pounds of the various extracts is shown. 10 Table 11 shows the results from the Auto Analyzer analysis of reducing sugars and total sugars as well as of nicotine of the various solid tobacco fractions. In table 12 the results from the Auto Analyzer analysis of re 15 ducing sugars and total sugars as well as of nicotine of the various tobacco extracts and fractions thereof is shown. It is evident, that a very high degree of removal of phenolic compounds from the tobacco extract has been obtained. Further, 20 it is evident, that the majority of reducing sugars, total sug ars and nicotine is extracted form the tobacco by the extraction procedure and thus occurs in the tobacco extract. However, none of these compounds are significantly affected by the enzyme treatment and/or bentonite treatment of the extract, and are 25 thus kept intact in the treated extract and can thus be trans ferred back to the tobacco when recombined.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 62 Rt ID Sample 3 Sample 4 (1) Sample 6 (1) Min tobacco extract enzyme treated enzyme and ben before enzyme extract after tonite treated treatment separation from extract seper precipitate ated from pre cipitate and bentonite 5.1 ? 100% 0% 0% 6.3 CA 100% 0% 0% 8.5 ? 100% 0% 0% 10.5 ? 100% 61% 50% 13.6 ? 100% 0% 0% 16.8 S 100% 47% 44% 21.5 R 100% 0% 0% 24.9 ? 100% 0% 0% peaks 100% 4% 3% Rt>3 min (1) Before drying Table 10: Remaining content (% remaining) (measured as peak area relative to the content in the extract) of the major peaks in the 5 HPLC chromatograms as well as of all peaks with R t > 3 minutes. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin 1: Raw tobacco 2: Freeze dried extracted to before extraction bacco ("tobacco residue") R.S. 13.8% 2.3% T.S. 17.2% 2.6% Nicotine 2.74% 0.48% Table 11: Content of reducing sugars, total sugars, and nicotine 10 in "tobacco"/"tobacco residue". All figures are %(w/w) and have been determined relative to 100% dry matter. R.S: Reducing sugars, T.S: Total sugars WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 63 R.S. T.S. Nicotine Sample 3 23.5% 29.0% 4.95% tobacco extract before enzyme treatment Sample 4 24.6% 28.5% 4.59% enzyme treated extract after separation from precipitate Sample 5 2.4% 2.8% 0.68% precipitate from enzyme treated extract Sample 6 25.0% 28.6% 4.32% enzyme and bentonite treated extract separated from precipi tate and bentonite Sample 7 2.4% 2.7% 0.70% precipitate from enzyme and ben tonite treated tobacco Table 12: Content of reducing sugars, total sugars, and nicotine in the "tobacco extract" as well as in the various fractions of enzyme treated tobacco extract. All figures are %(w/w) and have 5 been determined relative to 100% dry matter. R.S: Reducing sugars, T.S: Total sugars. EXAMPLE 9 Large scale tobacco processing 10 3.0 kg of tobacco (flue-cured Virginia tobacco, cut at 35 cuts per inch (cpi)) were extracted in 100 litres of water at 60-65 0 C for 15 minutes. The extract was separated from the "tobacco resi due" and collected in a large tank. The temperature of the ex tract was 55C and slowly dropped to 40 0 C during processing. MtL 15 was added to a final concentration of 4.1 pg/ml. The mixture was intensely aerated during the reaction time. Samples were col lected at intervals and analysed for chlorogenic acid (CA), rutin (R) and scopoletin (S) by means of HPLC. A portion of each sample was freeze dried and the solid residue was analysed for sugars 20 and nicotine by means of an Auto Analyzer. The results are shown in table 13.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 64 The same analyses as made on the tobacco extract were also per formed on the tobacco before and after the water extraction. The results are shown in table 14. 5 It is evident, that the phenol content of the tobacco extract was reduced to a minimum after 20 minutes processing. Further, it is evident, that the majority of reducing sugars and total sugars and nicotine is extracted from the tobacco by the extrac tion procedure and thus occurs in the tobacco extract. However, 10 none of these compounds are significantly affected by the enzyme treatment of the extract, and are thus kept intact in the "enzyme treated tobacco extract" and can be transferred back to the tobacco residue when recombined. 15 The experiment was repeated with 6.0 kg tobacco and 200 litres of water at 60-65 0 C. Similar results were obtained with the 200 li tre batch as with the 100 litre batch. The results are presented in table 15 and table 16. 20 Time Temp [CA] [R] [S] R.S. Nic. T.S. min 0 0C mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml % w/w % w/w % w/w S 54.9 0.420 0.1490 0.0087 22.0 4.94 24.3 5 52.0 0.036 0.0198 0.0063 22.1 4.41 24.2 10 50.3 BDL 0.0020 0.0027 22.4 4.38 24.2 15 48.8 BDL BDL 0.0014 22.7 4.43 24.5 20 47.4 BDL BDL 0.0010 23.2 4.49 24.3 30 45.0 BDL BDL 0.0010 23.5 4.48 24.5 45 41.9 BDL BDL 0.0010 23.3 4.48 24.6 60 39.1 BDL BDL 0.0010 23.7 4.54 24.8 (1): Before laccase addition.

WO00/02464 PCTIDK99/00389 65 Table 13: Content of various tobacco extract components as a function of time during MtL treatment during the 3.0 kg/100 litre scale treatment. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin 5 Detection limit: CA: 2.43 pg/ml; R: 1.55 pg/ml; S: 0.50 pg/ml BDL: Below detection limit, R.S. Reducing sugars, Nic: Nicotine, T.S.: Total sugars %R.S., %Nic., %T.S. were measured on freeze dried extracts 10 ID DWB [CA] [R] [S] R.S. Nic. T.S. kg % w/w % w/w % w/w % w/w % % w/w w/w Virginia to- 2.580 1.986 0.761 0.045 18.8 3.00 17.2 bacco ("raw tobacco") Extracted Vir- 1.109 0.223 0.147 0.013 1.8 0.43 2.2 ginia tobacco ("tobacco resi due") Table 14: Content of various tobacco components in tobacco before ("raw tobacco") and after extraction ("tobacco residue") during the 3.0 kg/100 litre scale treatment. 15 DWB: Tobacco Dry Weight Basis CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin Detection limit: CA: 0.008%; R: 0.005%; S: 0.002% R.S. Reducing sugars, Nic: Nicotine, T.S.: Total sugars WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 66 Time Temp [CA] [R] [S] R.S. Nic. T.S. minutes 0 0 C mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml % w/w % w/w % w/w 0 ) 57.2 0.4350 0.1448 0.0111 23.5 5.19 26.0 5 56.2 0.0166 0.0109 0.0101 23.7 4.77 25.3 10 55.8 0.0138 0.0111 0.0090 23.4 4.68 24.7 15 55.2 BDL BDL 0.0078 23.6 4.67 25.2 20 54.5 BDL BDL 0.0054 24.1 4.74 25.5 30 53.5 BDL BDL 0.0043 23.9 4.69 25.5 45 52.2 BDL BDL 0.0020 24.5 4.72 25.4 60 51.0 BDL BDL 0.0019 24.3 4.76 25.9 (1): Before laccase addition. Table 15: Content of various tobacco extract components as a function of time during MtL treatment during the 6.0 kg/200 litre 5 scale treatment. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin Detection limit: CA: 2.43 pg/ml; R: 1.55 pg/ml; S: 0.50 pg/ml BDL: Below detection limit R.S. Reducing sugars, Nic: Nicotine, T.S.: Total sugars 10 %R.S., %Nic., %T.S. were measured on freeze dried extracts ID DWB [CA] [R] [S] R.S. Nic. T.S. kg % % % % % % w/w w/w w/w w/w w/w w/w Virginia tobacco 5.160 1.777 0.675 0.040 14.3 2.96 16.2 ("raw tobacco") Extracted Virginia 2.307 0.243 0.150 0.014 1.9 0.47 2.2 tobacco ("tobacco residue") Table 16: Content of various tobacco components in tobacco before ("raw tobacco) and after extraction ("tobacco residue") during the 6.0 kg/200 litre scale treatment. 15 DWB: Tobacco Dry Weight Basis CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin Detection limit: CA: 0.008%; R: 0.005%; S: 0.002% R.S. Reducing sugars, Nic: Nicotine, T.S.: Total sugars WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 67 EXAMPLE 10 "Raw tobacco" was extracted according to the procedure described 5 in Example 8. The "tobacco extract" was treated with MtL for 20 minutes at 55 0 C with intense aeration and at a concentration of MtL corresponding to 4.1 pg/ml. After enzyme treatment, bentonite was added at a concentration of 1 g/L at the temperature of the extract after the laccase treatment (50oC) for 10 minutes. The 10 slurry was clarified at a flow rate of 1 L/min using a continuous centrifuge. The enzyme treated and clarified extract was then concentrated 40 fold by means of reverse osmosis and evaporation. The concentrate was then recombined with the "tobacco residue" by spraying back the extract onto the tobacco residue, and finally 15 dried, resulting in "recombined tobacco material". Samples of tobacco before and after extraction and recombination with the tobacco extract was analysed for nicotine, reducing sug ars, total sugars by means of an Auto Analyzer according to the 20 method previously described, and analysed for chlorogenic acid, rutin, and scopoletin by means of HPLC according the method pre viously described. The tobacco extract before and after MtL and bentonite treatment was analysed for chlorogenic acid, rutin, and scopoletin by means of HPLC according the method previously de 25 scribed. The results obtained are shown in table 17 and 18. It is evident that the amount of phenolic compounds in the recom bined tobacco material has been significantly reduced compared to the raw tobacco. Further, it is evident that the reducing sugar 30 as well as the total sugar content has not been affected, and that the nicotine content is only slightly reduced.

WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 68 Sample [CA] [R] [S] mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml Intact extract 0.464 0.0995 0.0066 ("tobacco extract") Extract after MtL treatment BDL 0.005 0.0047 Extract after MtL- and ben- BDL BDL 0.0017 tonite treatment and sepa ration by centrifugation Table 17: Analysis of phenolic compound content of tobacco ex tract before and after enzyme- and bentonite treatment. CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin 5 Detection limit: CA: 2.43 pg/ml; R: 1.55 pg/ml; S: 0.50 pg/ml BDL: Below detection limit ID [CA] [R] [S] R.S. Nic. T.S. Ephenol % w/w % w/w % w/w % w/w % w/w % w/w % w/w X, 1.862 0.685 0.045 12.9 3.27 14.9 2.592

X

2 BDL BDL 0.006 14.6 2.40 14.0 0.006 Table 18: Content of various tobacco components in tobacco before 10 and after extraction and recombination with the enzyme- and ben tonite treated extract. Xi: Untreated Virginia tobacco("raw tobacco") x 2 : Virginia tobacco recombined with treated extract ("recombined tobacco"). 15 CA: Chlorogenic acid, R: Rutin, S: Scopoletin Detection limit: CA: 0.008%; R: 0.005%; S: 0.002% BDL: Below Detection Limit R.S. Reducing sugars, Nic: Nicotine, T.S.: Total sugars

Claims (44)

1. A process for preparing a tobacco product, which process comprises the step of 5 (i) treating a tobacco material with a phenol oxidising enzyme with the proviso that the phenol oxidising enzyme is not monophenol monooxygenase (EC 1.14.18.1).

2. The process according to claim 1, which further comprises the 10 steps of (ii) extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to provide an extraction mixture; and (iii) separating the extraction mixture into a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue, 15 wherein the treatment of step (i) is performed during or after step (ii).

3. A process for preparing a tobacco product, which process comprises the steps of 20 (ii) extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to provide an extraction mixture; (iii) separating the extraction mixture into a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue, (i) treating the tobacco extract with a phenol oxidising 25 enzyme to produce one or more oxidised phenolic compounds.

4. The process according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising the step of (iv) separating the oxidised phenolic compound(s) from the tobacco extract. 30

5. The process according to claim 4, wherein said separation is achieved by means of centrifugation, filtration, WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 70 ultrafiltration, sedimentation, reverse osmosis, sedimentation, adsorption, decanting or sieving, or any combinations of the foregoing. 5

6. The process according to any of claims 1-5, further comprising the step of inactivating and/or removing the phenol oxidising enzyme.

7. The process according to any of claims 2-6, further 10 comprising the step of (vi) concentrating the extract.

8. The process according to any of claims 2-7, further comprising: (vii) treating the extract with an insoluble adsorbent; and/or 15 (viii) treating the extract with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP).

9. The process according to claim 3, which comprises the following steps in the sequence indicated: 20 (ii) extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to provide an extraction mixture; (iii) separating the extraction mixture into a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue; (i) treating the extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme; 25 (vii) treating the extract with an insoluble adsorbent; and (vi) concentrating the extract.

10. The process according to claim 3, which comprises the following steps in the sequence indicated: 30 (ii) extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to provide an extraction mixture; WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 71 (iii) separating the extraction mixture into a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue; (i) treating the extract with a phenol oxidising enzyme to produce one or more oxidised phenolic compound; 5 (iv) separating the oxidised phenolic compound(s) from the tobacco extract; and (vi) concentrating the extract.

11. The process according to any of claims 2-10, further 10 comprising the step of combining the enzyme-treated tobacco extract with a tobacco material.

12. The process according to any of claims 2-10, further comprising the step of (ix) recombining the enzyme-treated 15 tobacco extract with the tobacco residue.

13. The process according to any of claims 1-12 , further comprising the step of treatment with a proteolytic enzyme. 20

14. The process according to any of claims 11-13, wherein a tobacco material or a tobacco residue has been treated with a protease before the combination with the extract.

15. The process according to any of claims 1-14, where the 25 tobacco product is a tobacco article for smoking.

16. The process according to any of claims 2-15, wherein the solvent is an aqueous solvent. 30

17. The process according to claim 16, wherein the solvent comprises a protease. WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 72

18. The process according to any of claim 2-17 wherein the solvent comprises a surfactant.

19. The process according to any of claims 1-18, wherein the 5 phenol oxidising enzyme is a phenolic oxidase.

20. The process according to claim 19, wherein the phenolic oxidase is selected from the group consisting of a catechol oxidase, a laccase and an o-aminophenol oxidase. 10

21. The process according to claim 20, wherein the phenolic oxidase is a laccase, such as e.g. a laccase derived from tobacco. 15

22. The process according to claim 21, wherein the laccase is derived from Trametes, e.g. Trametes villosa, from Myceliophthora, e.g. Myceliophthora thermophila, from Coprinus, e.g. Coprinus cinereus, from Rhizoctonia, e.g. Rhizoctonia solani, Pycnoporus, e.g. Pycnoporus cinnabarious, or from 20 tobacco species.

23. The process according to any of claims 1-18, wherein the phenol oxidising enzyme is a peroxidase. 25

24. The process according to claim 23, wherein the peroxidase is a horseradish peroxidase, a soy bean peroxidase, a tobacco peroxidase or a peroxidase derived from Coprinus, e.g., Coprinus cinereus, Coprinus macrorhizus, from Bacillus, e.g., Bacillus pumilus, or from Myxococcus, e.g., Myxococcus virescens. 30 WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 73

25. The process according to any of claims 1-24, wherein the phenol oxidising enzyme reacts with its substrate by single electron transfer. 5

26. The process according to any of claims 1-25 wherein the phenol oxidising enzyme is derived from tobacco.

27. The process according to any of claims 1-26, wherein the phenol oxidising enzyme is not monophenol monooxygenase (EC 10 1.14.18.1).

28. A process for preparing a tobacco product with a reduced concentration of at least one phenolic compound, which process comprises the step of treating a tobacco material with a phenol 15 oxidising enzyme.

29. A process for preparing a tobacco product comprising the step of treating a tobacco material with a phenol oxidising enzyme to provide a tobacco product with a reduced concentration 20 of a phenolic compound, said reduction is an at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 75, at least 80%, at least 95 %, least 98% or a 100% reduction in the concentration of said phenolic compound in said tobacco material. 25

30. The process according to claim 29, wherein the phenolic compound is chlorogenic acid.

31. The process according to claim 29, wherein the phenolic 30 compound is rutin. WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 74

32. The process according to claim 29, wherein the phenolic compound is scopoletin.

33. A process for preparing a tobacco product comprising the 5 step of treating a tobacco material with a phenol oxidising enzyme to provide a tobacco product which by HPLC analysis shows a reduction in a signal (peaks) compared to the tobacco material from before the enzyme treatment step, said signal corresponding to a phenolic compound, where said reduction is an at least 5%, 10 at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 75, at least 80%, at least 95 %, least 98% or 100% reduction.

34. The process according to any of claims 28-33 which process 15 comprises one or more of the steps as defined in claims 1-27.

35. The process according to any of claims 28-33 wherein the tobacco material is a tobacco extract. 20

36. A process for reducing the concentration of at least one phenolic compound in a tobacco material comprising treating an extract of a tobacco material with a phenol oxidising enzyme.

37. A process for reducing the concentration of at least one 25 phenolic compound in a tobacco material according to any of claims 1-36 wherein said phenolic compound(s) is/are low molecular weight phenolic compound(s).

38. A process for reducing the concentration of at least one 30 phenolic compound in a tobacco material comprising treating an extract of a tobacco material with a phenol modifying enzyme. WO00/02464 PCT/DK99/00389 75

39. Use of a phenol oxidising enzyme in the processing of a tobacco extract.

40. Use of a phenol oxidising enzyme in the preparation of a 5 tobacco product, said phenol oxidising enzyme is not monophenol monooxygenase (EC 1.14.18.1).

41. Use of a laccase in the preparation of a tobacco product. 10

42. Use of a laccase and a protease in the preparation of a to bacco product.

43. A tobacco material obtainable by any of the processes of claims 1-38. 15

44. A modified tobacco product having a reduced concentration of at least one phenolic compound relative to a tobacco material from which it is derived, wherein said product is produced by treating a tobacco material with a phenol oxidizing enzyme. 20 44. A modified tobacco product according to claim 44 wherein the product is produced by a process which further comprises one or more of the steps as defined in claims 1-27. 25