VEGETABLE COMPOSITION FOR SMOKING AND CIGARETTE CONTAINING SUCH A COMPOSITION

Abstract

The invention relates to a composition comprising a dried preparation suitable for smoking, said dried preparation comprising a mixture of plant materials. According to the invention, the plant materials comprise corn silk and peppermint leaves.

Description

Title of the invention: PLANT COMPOSITION FOR SMOKING AND CIGARETTE COMPRISING SUCH A COMPOSITION Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the general technical field of smoking materials and more particularly to plant-based materials used as tobacco substitutes.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to a composition of plant materials suitable for being smoked and a cigarette comprising such a composition. Prior art

[0003] For example, compositions of plant materials intended to replace tobacco are known. Document US 5,135,010 describes, for example, smoking compositions comprising Laurus Nobilis or Nelumbo Garetin or a mixture of the two in determined proportions. These compositions are not without drawbacks. Indeed, these compositions are often criticised for the taste which is not very pleasant for the consumer. Presentation of the invention

[0004] The object of the invention therefore aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a new composition of plant materials, suitable for smoking and free from nicotine.

[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide a new composition of plant materials suitable for being smoked and releasing, upon combustion, substantially fewer components harmful to the health of the user than those released by conventional cigarettes containing tobacco.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to propose a cigarette containing a new composition of plant materials, less harmful to the health of the user.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette containing a new composition of plant materials, which provides the user with a better taste than that provided by known cigarettes.

[0008] The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a composition comprising a dried preparation suitable for smoking, said dried preparation comprising a mixture of vegetable materials, characterized in that the vegetable materials comprise Corn Hair, and Peppermint leaves.

[0009] According to one example, this composition comprises Tumera Diffusa leaves and / or Calendula Officinalis leaves.

[0010] For example, plant materials have a proportion by weight in the mixture, between 40% and 60% for Corn Hair, 15% and 26% for Turnera Diffusa leaves, 15% and 26% for Calendula Officinalis leaves, and 2% and 10% for Peppermint leaves.

[0011] As a preferred example, the plant materials have a proportion by weight in the mixture of between 48% and 53% for Corn Hair, 20% and 24% for Turnera Diffusa leaves, 20% and 24% for Calendula Officinalis leaves, and 4% and 6% for Peppermint leaves.

[0012] As a particularly preferred example, the plant materials have a proportion by weight in the mixture of 50% for Corn Hair, 22.5% for Turnera Diffusa leaves, 22.5% for Calendula Officinalis leaves, and 5% for Peppermint leaves.

[0013] According to one example, the composition comprises mallow leaves and / or thyme leaves.

[0014] According to one example, the composition comprises Lavender Rose leaves and / or Sage leaves.

[0015] According to one example, the dried preparation is packaged in cut and chopped dry plants for the manufacture of cigarettes.

[0016] The objects assigned to the invention are achieved using a cigarette comprising a paper rolled to form a cylindrical container, a biodegradable filter closing one end of the cylindrical container, characterized in that the cylindrical container forms the cigarette tube containing a composition as presented above.

[0017] For example, the biodegradable filter is made with unbleached foam.

[0018] A remarkable advantage of the composition according to the invention is that it is free on the one hand from nicotine and on the other hand from its metabolites, unlike conventional cigarettes containing tobacco.

[0019] Another advantage of the composition according to the invention and of a cigarette containing said composition lies in the production during combustion of extremely low concentrations of harmful combustion components. This results from the fact that neither the composition nor the cigarette contains arsenic, hydrocyanic acid, naphthalene, cadmium, lead and nickel.

[0020] Indeed, the harmful substances present in commercial cigarettes come from a variety of sources, including natural components of tobacco and chemicals added during the production and processing of tobacco. Tobacco contains many harmful substances, including nicotine (which is addictive), tar (which contains many carcinogens), heavy metals and other toxic chemicals that are absorbed by the plant roots from the soil.

[0021] During the tobacco processing process, harmful chemicals may be added to it. Examples include flavoring agents, preservatives, and humectants, which are often incorporated into tobacco to improve taste and shelf life. Many chemical additives are also added during cigarette manufacturing to improve flavor, combustion, nicotine absorption, color, and aroma. Some of these additives can be very harmful. For example, formaldehyde is used to increase the potency of nicotine addiction.

[0022] When the cigarette is lit, the combustion of tobacco releases many of these harmful substances. The high temperature of combustion transforms the components of tobacco into gases and particles, creating toxic chemicals, such as carbon monoxide, hydrocyanic acid (cyanide), benzene and other carcinogens.

[0023] It is important to note that the combustion of tobacco is a complex process that generates a wide range of chemicals that are harmful to health. This is one of the main reasons why cigarette smoking is associated with serious health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and other serious conditions.

[0024] These harmful substances are not specific to tobacco. They are formed during the combustion of various organic materials. However, the specific chemical composition of tobacco and the additives present in cigarettes can influence the quantity and concentration of these substances in cigarette smoke.

[0025] Tobacco is recognized as a significant source of benzene and other toxic, carcinogenic, and health-damaging compounds when burned and inhaled in the form of cigarettes. In general, tobacco is particularly harmful because of the multitude of toxic and carcinogenic substances it releases when burned. The cyanide present in tobacco (particularly when tobacco leaves are processed to make cigarettes) is a major drawback for commercial cigarettes.

[0026] The composition according to the invention, comprising natural products of the medicinal herb type originating from geographical areas free of pesticides or other pollutants, makes it possible to substantially reduce the concentrations of harmful compounds in the smoke generated during its combustion.

[0027] Another remarkable advantage of the composition according to the invention is obtained by a pleasant taste which it provides to the user. The smoker's breath is also improved and his clothes are not impregnated with tobacco odors after smoking.

[0028] Furthermore, a cigarette according to the invention allows the user, for example a heavy smoker of conventional cigarettes containing tobacco, to continue the gestures and smoking habits related to cigarette consumption, while substantially reducing the concentrations of harmful and toxic products in the body.

[0029] It should also be noted that the plants in the compositions according to the invention contain nutrients and other compounds beneficial to the health of the user. In particular, mention may be made of an antioxidant action of the plants present in the composition according to the invention, thanks to the flavonoids still present on the one hand in each of said plants and on the other hand after combustion in the smoke at a reduced but still significant concentration.

[0030] The compositions according to the invention also have a pleasant taste for the user. The combination of peppermint and corn hair is particularly interesting because the peppermint substantially improves the taste and the corn hair improves the consistency of the smoke. These two criteria are essential for the consumer. Detailed description of the invention

[0031] The invention relates to a composition comprising a dried preparation suitable for smoking. The dried preparation comprises a mixture of natural, preferably bio-sourced, plant materials. The plant materials comprise Corn Hair, Tumera Diffusa leaves, Calendula Officinalis leaves and Peppermint leaves.

[0032] For example, the plant materials have a proportion by weight in the mixture of between 40% and 60% for Corn Hair, between 15% and 26% for Turnera Diffusa leaves, between 15% and 26% for Calendula Officinalis leaves and between 2% and 10% for Peppermint leaves.

[0033] As an example of a preferred preparation, the plant materials have a proportion by weight in the mixture of between 48% and 53% for Corn Hair, between 20% and 24% for Tumera Diffusa leaves, between 20% and 24% for Calendula Officinalis leaves and between 4% and 6% for Peppermint leaves.

[0034] According to an example of preparation, the plant materials have a proportion by weight in the mixture of 50% for Corn Hair, 22.5% for Turnera Diffusa leaves, 22.5% for Calendula Officinalis leaves and 5% for Peppermint leaves.

[0035] The dried preparation is advantageously packaged in cut and chopped dry plants for the manufacture of cigarettes.

[0036] The invention also relates to a cigarette comprising a paper rolled to form a cylindrical container and a biodegradable filter closing one end of the cylindrical container. The biodegradable filter is for example a foam and not bleached, hence their beige color. The cylindrical container contains a composition as described above.

[0037] Various tests were carried out with the composition in accordance with the invention and with a commercial cigarette. The results of these tests are presented below. Test 1

[0038] The smoking composition according to the invention was wrapped in cigarette paper to form cigarettes similar in appearance to conventional tobacco cigarettes containing tobacco (commercial cigarettes). The composition used comprises, in proportion by weight, 50% Corn Hair, 22.5% Turnera Diffusa leaves, 22.5% Calendula Officinalis leaves and 5% Peppermint.

[0039] Such a cigarette, called cigarette A, was then chemically analyzed in comparison with a conventional cigarette containing commercially available MALBORO brand tobacco, called cigarette C.

[0040] Each of these cigarettes A and C was analyzed to determine, after combustion, their content of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, phenol, benzopyrene and free radicals.

[0041] The analyte approach to perform this test 1 was as follows.

[0042] The various components of the smoking preparation were dried in a desiccator for several days and then weighed. They were then burned in a combustion chamber supplied with oxygen and the gases were withdrawn through three absorption tubes, connected in series. Each absorption tube contained 10 ml of absorption solution. The absorption solution was 0.1 M NaOH to determine the amounts of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, benzene to determine the amount of phenol, cyclohexane to determine the amount of benzopyrene and distilled water and cyclohexane to determine the amount of free radicals. After combustion was complete, the series of three absorption solutions for each determination and each type of cigarette were combined. The cyclohexane absorption solution for determining the amount of benzopyrene was concentrated from the initial combined volume of 30 ml to a final volume of 0.5 ml.Each absorption solution, without having been exposed to combustion or resulting gases, was analyzed simultaneously to serve as a control. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide determinations were performed using a Dione 20101 HPLC-LC system (Dionex Corp.), equipped with a 10-Ass column and a conductivity detector. The mobile phase used contained 0.0022 M Na2CO3 and 0.0028 M NaHCO3, the flow rate was 2 ml / minute, and the injection volume was 50 μl. Phenol determination was performed using a Perkin-Elmer Sigma-1 gas chromatography system (Perkin-Elmer Corp.), equipped with a FF AP column (0.1% carbopack C) and a . FID detector. The injection volume was 1 μl. Benzopyrene determination was performed using a Hitachi 650-65 fluorescence spectrophotometer (Hitachi, Inc.). Free radical determination was performed using a Brucker ER-200D electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer (Brucker GmbH, W. Germany).

[0043] Thus, for 1.0 g of smoke, the following results are obtained:

[0044] [Tables 1] Name in letters Cigarette A Cigarette C NO2 7 pg 27 fig SO2 0 2 pg Phenol 0 20 pg Benzopyrene 0.01 pg 0.02 pg Free radicals 0 1015 to 1017

[0045] A concentration displayed with the value zero, “0”, corresponds to a concentration too low to be detected.

[0046] No amount of phenol could be detected. The same is true for sulfur dioxide and free radicals.

[0047] Free radicals are unstable and highly reactive chemical species that contain one or more unpaired electrons in their outer shell. These unpaired electrons make them highly reactive and able to interact rapidly with other molecules in their environment, including cellular molecules such as lipids, proteins, and DNA.

[0048] For example, the free radicals present in cigarette smoke are hydroxyl radicals (*OH), superoxide radicals (*O2-) and peroxyl radicals (•OOH). Free radicals are very reactive due to their unstable electronic structure. They seek to stabilize their electronic configuration by reacting with other molecules to achieve electronic equilibrium.

[0049] When free radicals react with cellular components such as lipids, proteins or DNA, they can cause oxidative damage. This damage can lead to cellular alterations, genetic mutations, cellular dysfunction and contribute to premature aging and various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The accumulation of damage caused by free radicals is often associated with the aging process. In addition, free radicals play a role in the development and progression of many chronic diseases, including for example arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Test 2

[0050] The tests carried out to compare the concentration of various components in conventional cigarettes containing tobacco (commercial cigarettes) and in cigarettes in accordance with the invention are reported in the following table.

[0051] The analytical procedure consisted of burning a cigarette sample to obtain 1.0 g of smoke from each cigarette in the presence of oxygen in a combustion chamber. The gases were withdrawn through a series of three absorption tubes containing 0.1 M sodium hydroxide in water (5 ml), benzene (5 ml), and cyclohexane (5 ml), respectively. After combustion was complete, the three absorption solutions from each sample were combined to provide a combined absorption solution (15 ml). Aliquots (50 μl each) of the combined solution from each sample were injected onto a chromatography column for gas chromatographic analysis of carbon monoxide and onto a Walters column for gas chromatographic analysis of the dibenzane-thracene level.

[0052] The results obtained are reported in the table given below.

[0053] [Tables2] Components Commercial cigarette Invention cigarette Carbon monoxide 13 pg / g 4^g / g Benzanthracene 31 ng / g 5 ng / g Benzopyrene 11 ng / g 5.5 ng / g

[0054] It appears that the composition according to the invention (cigarette of the invention) produces very low levels of harmful substances such as carbon monoxide and benzanthracene and benzopyrene, whereas the corresponding levels for conventional cigarettes containing tobacco (commercial cigarettes) are multiplied by 2, 3 or 6.

[0055] According to other examples of compositions in accordance with the invention, the preparation comprises plant materials whose proportion by weight in the mixture is 50% for Corn Hair, 22.5% for Mallow and / or Thyme leaves, 22.5% for Rose Lavender or Sage leaves and 5% for Peppermint leaves.

[0056] Thus, in an example of composition, the proportion by weight of the leaves of Mallow or Thyme, or a mixture of the two plant materials, replaces that of the leaves of Turnera Diffusa.

[0057] In another example of composition, the proportion by weight of Rose Lavender or Sage leaves, or a mixture of the two plant materials, replaces that of leaves of Calendula Officinalis.

[0058] In another example of composition, the proportion by weight of the leaves of Mallow and / or Thyme, or a mixture of the two plant materials, replaces that of the leaves of Tumera Diffusa and the proportion by weight of the leaves of Rose Lavender and / or Sage, or a mixture of the two plant materials, replaces that of the leaves of Calendula Officinalis.

[0059] More generally, the concentration ranges of Turnera Diffusa leaves and the concentration ranges of Calendula Officinalis leaves, indicated herein, are identical to the respective concentration ranges of Mallow and / or Thyme leaves and of Rose Lavender and / or Sage leaves.

[0060] The composition according to the invention has remarkable and interesting properties. Dried corn hair leaves may contain traces of chemical compounds such as cyanide, but their presence is generally at very low or undetectable levels.

[0061] Furthermore, there is no available and credible information or solid scientific evidence demonstrating that Damiana (Tumera diffusa) contains cyanide or that it contains benzene in significant or dangerous quantities.

[0062] With regard to Calendula officinalis, it is interesting to note that its main chemical compounds include flavonoids, triterpenes, carotenes, saponins, polysaccharides, essential oils and other phenolic compounds. These compounds are generally considered beneficial to health and are not associated with cyanide toxicity risks.

[0063] Calendula Officinalis does not contain benzene in significant amounts.

[0064] Furthermore, Peppermint does not contain benzene in significant quantities and does not contain cyanide.

[0065] It is obvious that the present description is not limited to the examples explicitly described, but also includes other embodiments. Thus, a described technical characteristic can be replaced by an equivalent technical characteristic, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A composition comprising a dried preparation suitable for smoking, said dried preparation comprising a mixture of plant materials, characterized in that the plant materials comprise Corn Hair, and Peppermint leaves.

2. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises leaves of Tumera Diffusa and / or leaves of Calendula Officinalis.

3. Composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the plant materials have a proportion by weight in the mixture, between: - 40% and 60% for Corn Hair, - 15% and 26% for Turnera Diffusa leaves, - 15% and 26% for Calendula Officinalis leaves, and - 2% and 10% for Peppermint leaves.

4. Composition according to claim 3, characterized in that the plant materials have a proportion by weight in the mixture, between: - 48% and 53% for Corn Hair, - 20% and 24% for Turnera Diffusa leaves, - 20% and 24% for Calendula Officinalis leaves, and - 4% and 6% for Peppermint leaves.

5. Composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the plant materials have a proportion by weight in the mixture of: - 50% for Corn Hair, - 22.5% for Turnera Diffusa leaves, - 22.5% for Calendula Officinalis leaves, and - 5% for Peppermint leaves.

6. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises mallow leaves and / or thyme leaves.

7. Composition according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that it comprises Rose Lavender leaves and / or Sage leaves.

8. Composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the dried preparation is packaged in cut and chopped dry plants for the manufacture of cigarettes.

9. A cigarette comprising a paper rolled to form a cylindrical container, a biodegradable filter closing one end of the container cylindrical, characterized in that the cylindrical container forms the cigarette tube containing a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A cigarette according to claim 9, characterized in that the biodegradable filter is made with unbleached foam.