Composition for oral cavity, and pouch product for oral cavity

Abstract

To provide a composition for the oral cavity and a pouch product for the oral cavity that deliver effective nicotine release to users.SOLUTION: A composition for the oral cavity comprises nicotine, an acid, and a substrate, wherein the acid is externally added, and wherein the composition for the oral cavity, when dispersed in water, exhibits acidity at 25°C.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to oral compositions and oral pouch products. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Oral pouch products are known that are formed by packaging an oral composition, such as an oral tobacco composition, in a material such as a nonwoven fabric, and are used by a user by placing the oral pouch product in the oral cavity. When an oral pouch product is placed in the mouth of a user, flavor components, such as nicotine, contained in the oral composition of the contents seep out to the outside of the packaging material, thereby delivering the flavor components to the user.

[0003] In oral pouch products, it is important to adjust the flavor sensation imparted to the user when using the product. For example, in products that include a tobacco-containing composition, in addition to removing contaminating substances caused by tobacco, there are known techniques for adjusting the content of nicotine and specific acids within specified ranges to achieve the desired flavor sensation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016-63423 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The flavor sensation experienced by a user when using an oral pouch product is greatly influenced by the composition of the oral composition contained in the oral pouch product. In order to adjust such a flavor sensation, Patent Document 1 describes adjusting the ratio of the amount of nicotine and a specific acid contained in the oral composition to a specific range. However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 describes adjusting the pH of the oral tobacco composition to neutral to basic, and in order to provide a desired flavor sensation to the user, it was necessary to adjust the pH of the oral tobacco composition to neutral to basic. In addition, the amount of moisture in the oral cavity is an important factor in determining the amount of flavor component (here, nicotine) released into the oral cavity when the oral pouch product is used, and there is a demand to increase the amount of moisture as much as possible. However, if the moisture content of the oral composition contained in the oral pouch product is increased, problems such as manufacturing constraints and product stability may occur.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an oral composition and an oral pouch product that provide good release of nicotine to the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The inventors discovered that an oral composition that exhibits acidity when dispersed in artificial saliva under specific conditions increases the amount of moisture in the user's mouth, thereby improving the release of nicotine contained in the oral composition, and thus arrived at the present invention.

[0008] [1] An oral composition comprising nicotine, an acid, and a base material, wherein the acid is added externally, and wherein artificial saliva in which the oral composition is dispersed is acidic at 25°C. [2] The oral composition contains a tobacco material, and the nicotine is derived from the tobacco material. The oral composition according to [1], [3] The oral composition described in [1], wherein the oral composition contains an ion exchange resin carrying nicotine, and the nicotine contained in the oral composition is derived from the ion exchange resin carrying nicotine. [4] The oral composition according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the base material is one or more selected from the group consisting of cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, spherical cellulose and porous cellulose, and the content of the base material is 50% by weight or more based on the total amount of the oral composition. [5] The oral composition according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the acid is one or more selected from organic acids and salts thereof. [6] The oral composition according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the acid is an organic acid, and the organic acid is one or more selected from the group consisting of malic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, lactic acid, butyric acid, L-ascorbic acid, glutamic acid and aspartic acid. [7] The oral composition according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the oral composition has a whiteness of 10 or more and 100 or less. [8] The oral composition according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the oral composition is composed of multiple solid particulates. [9] An oral pouch product comprising a packaging material for packaging an oral composition, and the oral composition according to any one of [1] to [8] packaged in the packaging material.

[10] The oral pouch product described in [9], wherein an acid is added to the packaging material. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an oral composition that satisfactorily releases a flavor component contained in the oral composition, and an oral pouch product. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a graph showing the amount of nicotine dissolved from an oral pouch product by artificial saliva over time.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. However, these descriptions are examples (representative examples) of the embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these contents unless it exceeds the gist thereof. In this specification, a numerical range represented by "~" means a range including the numerical values described before and after "~" as the lower limit value and the upper limit value, and "A~B" means A or more and B or less.

[0012] In this specification, artificial saliva can be prepared by the following procedure. (1) Prepare 1000 mL of distilled water. (2) Add 2 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid to lower the pH to 2.5 or less. (3) Weigh a predetermined amount of the following reagents and dissolve them in the above solution. K2HPO4·H2O 0.68 g NaCl (anhydrous) 0.33 g CaCl2·2H2O 0.15 g KCl (anhydrous) 0.75 g K2CO3 (anhydrous) 0.53 g MgCl2·6H2O 0.17 g (4) Using 5N NaOH, adjust the pH (25°C) of the solution to 6.8 ± 0.1.

[0013] In this specification, the pH of an oral composition or the like is measured by the following procedure. <Measurement of pH> Weigh 2.0 g of the oral composition to be measured (or the mixture containing tobacco powder described later) into a screw tube, add 20 ml of the above artificial saliva or distilled water, and shake the mixture at 200 rpm for 10 minutes for extraction treatment. After allowing the obtained extract to stand for 5 minutes, pH measurement (25°C) is performed under the following conditions, and the value of the pH of the tobacco filler is taken. <pH Measurement Conditions> Measuring instrument: LAQUA F-72 flat ISFET pH electrode (HORIBA, Ltd.) Equipment calibration: Three-point calibration using phthalic acid pH standard solution (pH 4.01), neutral phosphate pH standard solution (pH 6.86), and borate pH standard solution (pH 9.18) (all from Wako Pure Chemical Industries)

[0014] <Oral composition> The oral composition of the present invention is an oral composition containing nicotine, an acid, and a base material, and an artificial saliva in which the oral composition is dispersed is acidic at 25°C. The composition of the oral composition is not particularly limited as long as it contains at least nicotine, an acid, and a base material. The oral composition of the present invention is a composition that is preferably used in an oral pouch product. In addition, the oral composition contained in the pouch product is preferably not a liquid from the viewpoint of preventing leakage outside the pouch, and is preferably composed of, for example, a plurality of solid granules.

[0015] (nicotine) The oral cavity composition contains nicotine. The mode in which nicotine is contained is not particularly limited, and for example, nicotine may be contained as a compound, or a nicotine-carrying substance such as a nicotine salt or stabilized nicotine (e.g., nicotine supported on an ion exchange resin) may be contained.

[0016] An example of the nicotine-supporting substance is a substance in which nicotine is supported on an ion exchange resin as described above. When nicotine is supported on an ion exchange resin, an ion exchange resin is used as a support. An example of the ion exchange resin is a weakly acidic cation exchange resin. As the ion exchange resin supported with nicotine, a resin complex containing, for example, 10% by weight or more and 20% by weight or less of nicotine, called nicotine polacrilex, can be used. The ion exchange resin used in nicotine polacrilex is a weakly acidic cation exchange resin. When using nicotine polacrilex, the release of nicotine from the resin complex occurs during use of the oral composition through an ion exchange process with cations derived from the oral composition dissolved in saliva. This releases free nicotine from the water-insoluble resin complex, which is then easily absorbed through the user's oral mucosa. The exchange groups of the ion exchange resin used in nicotine polacrilex are regenerated in acidic conditions (returning to -COOH). Therefore, theoretically, when acidic conditions are maintained, nicotine molecules do not bind to the -COOH of the ion exchange resin, so that nicotine once released into the oral cavity does not undergo ion exchange with the ion exchange resin. The inventor presumes that this allows nicotine to be stably released into the oral cavity. When nicotine polacrilex is used, the amount of nicotine polacrilex added to the oral composition is usually 0.5% by weight or more, preferably 1.0% by weight or more, and more preferably 2.0% by weight or more, relative to the oral composition. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the flavor of the oral composition, the amount of nicotine polacrilex added to the oral composition is usually 15.0% by weight or less, preferably 12.0% by weight or less, and more preferably 10.0% by weight or less.

[0017] Furthermore, tobacco materials including, for example, tobacco powder made by grinding tobacco leaves may be contained as a nicotine source. Tobacco powder may include shredded dried tobacco leaf lamina, fine powder, fibers, etc. It can be prepared by the following method. In this specification, tobacco leaves may include mesophyll (lamina), veins (stems), and roots. The tobacco filler may include elements derived from the midrib and roots of tobacco leaves in addition to tobacco powder obtained basically from the lamina of tobacco leaves. There are no particular restrictions on the particle size of the tobacco powder, but from the standpoint of improving compatibility in the oral cavity to enhance usability and improving the release of flavor and aroma components contained in the tobacco powder into the oral cavity, it is preferable that the particle size has passed through a 1.2 mm mesh, and more preferably has passed through a 1.0 mm mesh. The tobacco species used as the raw material for the tobacco powder is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include the genus Nicotiana, such as the flue-like species of Nicotiana tabacum, the Burley species, and the Brasilia species of Nicotiana rustica. The same species can also be used for the tobacco material and tobacco leaves described below.

[0018] The tobacco powder is preferably obtained as follows. First, a base is added to tobacco powder obtained by grinding tobacco leaves and mixed. The base to be added may be potassium carbonate and / or sodium carbonate, and is preferably added as an aqueous solution. A pH adjuster such as sodium dihydrogen phosphate may also be added. The pH of the mixture after the addition of the base is preferably adjusted to 8.0 to 9.0. The tobacco powder content in this mixture is, for example, 60 to 90% by weight. After the base is added, the mixture is heated for, for example, 0.5 to 3 hours, preferably 0.8 to 2 hours under conditions such that the product temperature is 65 to 90° C., preferably 70 to 80° C. This sterilizes the tobacco powder. Heating can be achieved by either or both of steam injection and jacket heating. The pH of the mixture after heating is preferably 8.0 to 9.0, and the water content of the mixture after heating is preferably 10 to 50% by weight. After heating, the resulting treated tobacco powder is dried by stopping the steam injection as necessary and heating only the jacket. Then, the mixture is cooled at about 15 to 25° C. for about 1 hour.

[0019] When a tobacco material containing tobacco powder is used, the amount added to the oral composition is usually 0.001% by weight or more, preferably 0.01% by weight or more, and more preferably 0.05% by weight or more, relative to the oral composition. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the flavor of the oral composition, the amount of the tobacco material containing tobacco powder added to the oral composition is usually 90% by weight or less, preferably 80% by weight or less, and more preferably 70% by weight or less. Furthermore, the amount of the tobacco material containing tobacco powder added to the oral composition may be 45% by weight or less, 40% by weight or less, or 30% by weight or less.

[0020] As a nicotine source, a nicotine-containing extract obtained by extracting a nicotine-containing substance such as tobacco leaves may be contained. Among the above-mentioned embodiments, the addition of a nicotine-carrying substance is preferred from the viewpoint of accurate supply of nicotine and ease of handling.Also, when tobacco powder is added, the color of the oral composition or pouch product tends to be the color of tobacco leaves, whereas when a colorless nicotine-containing compound is used, it is possible to provide a white composition or pouch product.For users who prefer white pouch products, such an embodiment is advantageous. The above-mentioned aspects may be applied singly or in combination of two or more aspects.

[0021] The nicotine content in the oral composition is not particularly limited, but is usually 0.1% by weight or more and usually 15.0% by weight or less from the viewpoint of user preference. The same range of nicotine content can be applied to any of the following sources of nicotine: a substance in which nicotine is supported on the above-mentioned ion exchange resin, a tobacco material containing tobacco powder, or a nicotine-containing extract. The amount of nicotine contained does not affect the amount of nicotine released during use of the product. In addition, when nicotine exists as an ion, the above content is the content as a nicotine ion. The nicotine content in the composition can be measured by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography (LC, UV detection), and the like.

[0022] (acid) The oral composition of the present invention contains an acid. When the oral composition contains an acid, the secretion of saliva in the oral cavity is promoted during use by a user, and the dissolution of nicotine from the oral composition in the oral cavity is promoted. The acid may be a Bronsted acid, which is a proton donor, or a Lewis acid, which is an electron pair acceptor, or may be an inorganic acid and / or a salt thereof, or an organic acid and / or a salt thereof. Preferable examples of the inorganic acid and / or its salt include phosphoric acid, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, potassium pyrophosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, etc. Among these, it is preferable to use sodium dihydrogen phosphate. The organic acid may be one or more selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids such as malic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, lactic acid, and butyric acid, and acidic amino acids such as L-ascorbic acid, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid. Of the above carboxylic acids, one or more selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, and formic acid are preferred. The salt of the organic acid may be any metal salt of the organic acid listed above, and may be used without any particular limitation, as long as it is acidic in the composition. The metal constituting the salt may be an alkali metal. The alkali metal may be sodium or potassium, and it is preferable to use potassium. These acids and / or salts thereof are added externally during preparation of the oral composition, and are of a different origin from the acids and / or salts thereof derived from tobacco leaves when tobacco leaf-derived substances such as tobacco material are used as a nicotine source. It is preferable to add an organic acid that does not form a salt to the oral cavity composition. The organic acid and / or its salt may be used in combination with the inorganic acid and / or its salt.

[0023] The amount of the acid added is usually 1.0% by weight or more, preferably 6.0% by weight or more, more preferably 10% by weight or more, and even more preferably 20% by weight or more, based on the oral composition, from the viewpoint of the acidity when the oral composition is dispersed in a specific artificial saliva. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the flavor of the oral composition, the amount of the acid added is usually 60% by weight or less, preferably 55% by weight or less, and even more preferably 50% by weight or less, based on the oral composition. This range of the amount added can be applied to any of the above acids.

[0024] (base material) The oral composition of the present invention contains a base material. The type of base material is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include one or more types selected from the group consisting of cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, spherical cellulose, and porous cellulose. From the viewpoint of the degree of freedom in adjusting the bulk density of the composition and the viewpoint of exhibiting a white color, cellulose is preferred. One of these substances may be used alone, or In addition, two or more types may be used in any combination and in any ratio. The content of the base material in the oral composition is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoints of improving quality by suppressing the elution of moisture during production or product storage, and of increasing the whiteness of the product to give the user a desirable appearance, it is usually 50% by weight or more, preferably 53% by weight or more, and more preferably 55% by weight or more, and while there is no particular need to set an upper limit, from the viewpoint of the limit to which other raw materials can be blended, it is usually 70% by weight or less, preferably 68% by weight or less, and more preferably 65% ​​by weight or less.

[0025] (water) It is preferable that the oral composition contains an appropriate amount of moisture. The content of water in the oral composition (moisture content) is preferably 5% by weight or more. If the moisture content is less than 5% by weight, it may be difficult to manufacture the oral composition. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of ensuring good fluidity and adhesion of the oral composition and ease of manufacture of the composition, the water content is preferably 30% by weight or more, more preferably 45% by weight or more, and is usually 60% by weight or less, preferably 50% by weight or less. The water content may be 40% by weight or less, 30% by weight or less, or 20% by weight or less. The water content can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of water added or by carrying out a heating treatment or drying treatment during the manufacturing stage. The water content of the oral composition can be adjusted appropriately depending on the type of product (moist or dry). For example, in the case of the moist type, the water content is usually 20% by weight or more and 60% by weight or less, and preferably 30% by weight or more and 50% by weight or less. On the other hand, in the case of the dry type, the water content is usually 5% by weight or more and 20% by weight or less, and preferably 10% by weight or more and 15% by weight or less.

[0026] The water content of the composition is measured using a heat-drying moisture meter (e.g., HB 43-S manufactured by METTER TOLEDO). When measuring, the sample is placed in a specified container and heated to a temperature of 100°C. The measurement is terminated when the change in weight is 1 mg or less in 60 seconds, and the moisture content is calculated from the weighing values ​​before and after heating.

[0027] (Other substances) Examples of other substances include flavorings, pH adjusters, sweeteners, moisturizers, bitterness suppressants, whitening agents, thickening polysaccharides, emulsifiers, and the like. The content of other substances in the oral cavity composition is not particularly limited, and the composition can be appropriately adjusted according to the product design.

[0028] The type of flavoring is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include menthol, tobacco leaf extract, natural plant flavorings (e.g., cinnamon, sage, herbs, chamomile, kudzu, sweet tea, cloves, lavender, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, lemon, orange, cassia bark, caraway, jasmine, ginger, coriander, vanilla extract, spearmint, peppermint, cassia, coffee, celery, cascarilla, sandalwood, cocoa, ylang-ylang, fennel, anise, licorice, St. John's bread, plum extract, peach extract, etc.), sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose, , isomerized sugar, caramel, honey, molasses, etc.), cocoa (powder, extract, etc.), esters (e.g., isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, linalyl butyrate, etc.), ketones (e.g., menthone, ionone, damascenone, ethyl maltol, etc.), alcohols (e.g., geraniol, linalool, anethole, eugenol, etc.), aldehydes (e.g., vanillin, benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, etc.), lactones (e.g., γ-undecalactone, γ-nonalactone, etc.), animal fragrances (e.g., musk, ambergris, civet, castoreum, etc.), and hydrocarbons (e.g., limonene, pinene, etc.). These substances may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Any one or more types may be used in any combination and in any ratio.

[0029] The type of pH adjuster is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, anhydrous sodium phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium citrate, etc. From the viewpoint of the effect on the taste of the product, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate are preferred. These substances may be used alone or in any combination of two or more types in any type and ratio.

[0030] The type of sweetener is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include sugar alcohols such as xylitol, maltitol, and erythritol, and sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium, sucralose, and aspartame, and sugar alcohols are preferred from the viewpoint of taste adjustment. These substances may be used alone or in combination of two or more types in any type and ratio. By adding a sweetener, the sourness of the acid contained in the oral composition can be suppressed, and the flavor can be made as desired. The content of the sweetener in the oral composition can be generally 5.0% by weight or more and 40.0% by weight or less, and preferably 10.0% by weight or more and 30.0% by weight or less.

[0031] The bitterness suppressing agent is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, soybean lecithin. Soybean lecithin is a phospholipid, and may be phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidic acid, etc. These substances may be used alone or in any combination of two or more kinds in any type and ratio.

[0032] The type of moisturizer is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include glycerin, propylene glycol, etc., and from the viewpoint of product storage stability, glycerin is preferred. These substances may be used alone or in any combination of two or more types in any type and ratio.

[0033] The type of whitening agent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include fine silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, etc., and from the viewpoint of the effect on the taste of the product, fine silicon dioxide is preferred. These substances may be used alone or in any combination of two or more types in any type and ratio.

[0034] The type of thickening polysaccharide is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a thickening polysaccharide added to food. The thickening polysaccharide may be one or more selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, guar gum, carrageenan, pectin, carob bean gum (locust bean gum), curdlan, etc. When the oral composition contains a thickening polysaccharide, the oral texture of the composition is improved when used by the user. The content of the thickening polysaccharide in the oral composition is usually 1.0% by weight or more and 25.0% by weight or less, and preferably 5.0% by weight or more and 20.0% by weight or less.

[0035] The type of emulsifier is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, an emulsifier added to food. The emulsifier may be one or more selected from the group consisting of sucrose fatty acid ester, organic acid glycerin fatty acid ester, polyglycerin fatty acid ester, and lecithin. The sucrose fatty acid ester may be sucrose palmitate ester and sucrose stearate ester. The organic acid glycerin fatty acid ester may be glycerin succinate fatty acid ester and glycerin diacetyltartarate fatty acid ester. The polyglycerin fatty acid ester may be decaglycerin fatty acid ester. The content of the emulsifier in the oral cavity composition is usually 1.0% by weight or more and 20.0% by weight or less, and preferably 5.0% by weight or more and 15.0% by weight or less. This can be done.

[0036] The content of each of the above components (excluding the content of water) can also be calculated from the amount of the raw materials charged.

[0037] (pH of oral composition when dispersed in artificial saliva at 25°C) The pH of the oral composition dispersed in artificial saliva at a measurement temperature of 25°C is not particularly limited as long as it is acidic. In this specification, acidic refers to a pH of less than 6.7. From the viewpoint of stabilizing the release of nicotine into the oral cavity, the pH of the oral composition dispersed in artificial saliva at a measurement temperature of 25°C is less than 6.7, preferably 6.0 or less, more preferably 5.0 or less, even more preferably 4.0 or less, and particularly preferably 3.0 or less. In addition, it is usually 1.5 or more, and preferably 1.8 or more. The pH can be adjusted by controlling the amount of pH adjuster added. In addition, the pH values ​​in this specification, as well as the above pH values, are values ​​measured at a measurement temperature of 25°C.

[0038] The pH of the composition at the measurement temperature of 25° C. is measured using a pH analyzer (for example, HORIBA, Ltd.'s LAQUA F-72 flat ISFET pH electrode) by adding 20 ml of water to 2 g of the composition, shaking for 10 minutes, and measuring the supernatant. The calibration of the equipment is performed by three-point calibration using, for example, a phthalic acid pH standard solution (pH 4.01), a neutral phosphate pH standard solution (pH 6.86), and a borate pH standard solution (pH 9.18) (all from Wako Pure Chemical Industries).

[0039] (Whiteness of oral composition) In the present invention, the whiteness of the oral composition is determined by the whiteness defined in ASTM E313-73. A perfect diffuse reflecting surface (ideal white) is defined as a whiteness of 100. Measurement method: Color difference meter (KONI MINOLTA: CR-5) The measurement method is de:8° (SCE: specular reflection excluded, diffuse reflection) to determine the reflectance. From the obtained reflectance, the type of light source and the viewing angle (viewing angle 2°, light source C) are used to determine X, Y, Z (the tristimulus values ​​in the XYZ color system of the sample). This value is substituted into the following formula to calculate the whiteness index (WI). WI = 4 × (0.847 Z) - 3 Y The measurement sample is placed on a petri dish, and diffuse reflection excluding specular reflection from the petri dish (glass) is measured. The whiteness of the oral composition of the present invention measured by the above method is usually 10 or more and 100 or less, and preferably 20 or more and 40 or less. When the whiteness is 20 or more and 40 or less, the composition has a whiteness that gives a particularly favorable impression to users. When the oral composition satisfies the numerical range of the above color system, it is possible to give a desirable white impression to the user. The whiteness of the oral composition can be adjusted by selecting a substance with high whiteness as a nicotine source to be added to the oral composition, adjusting the type and amount of the base material, or adding a whitening agent that provides a white color, such as the above-mentioned fine silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, etc.

[0040] (Particle size of components of oral composition) The oral composition is preferably composed of a plurality of solid granules, but the size of the granules is not particularly limited. For example, it is preferable that the components of the dried oral composition satisfy the following classification conditions. The dried oral composition is preferably classified using a sieve having the following mesh size: From the viewpoint of controlling the size, the particles usually pass through a sieve having 15 mm meshes (<15 mm), preferably a sieve having 10 mm meshes (<10 mm), more preferably a sieve having 5 mm meshes (<5 mm), and even more preferably a sieve having 3.2 mm meshes (<3.2 mm). For example, when all of the dried oral composition passes through a sieve with 3.2 mm meshes, this indicates that the maximum particle size of the components of the oral composition when dried is 3.2 mm or less. There is no need to set a lower limit for the particle size of the components of the oral composition when dry, but from the viewpoint of preventing leakage from the pouch, it is usually 3 μm or more. The above-mentioned dried oral composition can be obtained by drying the oral composition by keeping it at 70° C. to 80° C. for about 3 hours. The maximum particle size of the components of the oral composition can be appropriately increased / decreased by adjusting the particle size of the material constituting the nicotine source, such as the tobacco material or the nicotine-loaded ion exchange resin. When the oral composition does not contain the tobacco material but contains the nicotine-loaded ion exchange resin, the particle size is greatly influenced by the particle size of the ion exchange resin. The nicotine-loaded ion exchange resin may have a median particle size (D50) measured by a Mastersizer of 30 μm or more and 80 μm or less, 40 μm or more and 70 μm or less, or 40 μm or more and 65 μm or less.

[0041] [Pouch] The pouch (packaging material) is not particularly limited, and any known material can be used as long as it can package the composition, is insoluble in water, and is permeable to liquids (water, saliva, etc.) and water-soluble components in the composition. Examples of the pouch material include cellulose-based nonwoven fabrics, and commercially available nonwoven fabrics may also be used. A sheet made of such a material is formed into a bag shape, the composition is poured into the bag, and the bag is sealed by heat sealing or other means to produce a pouch product. The basis weight of the above-mentioned sheet is not particularly limited, but is usually from 12 gsm to 54 gsm, and preferably from 24 gsm to 30 gsm. The thickness of the above-mentioned sheet is not particularly limited, and is usually 100 μm or more and 300 μm or less, and preferably 175 μm or more and 215 μm or less.

[0042] A water-repellent material may be partially applied to at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the pouch. A water-repellent fluororesin is suitable as the water-repellent material. Specifically, an example of this type of water-repellent fluororesin is Asahi Guard (registered trademark) manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. The water-repellent fluororesin is applied to packaging materials for foods and products containing fats and oils, such as confectionery, dairy products, prepared foods, fast food, and pet food. Therefore, this type of water-repellent fluororesin is safe to be applied to a pouch placed in the oral cavity. The water-repellent material is not limited to fluororesin, and may be, for example, paraffin resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, or other resins that have a water-repellent effect.

[0043] The pouch may contain any ingredient, for example, ingredients for adjusting the scent or taste, flavorings, additives, tobacco extracts, colorings, etc. The manner in which these ingredients are contained is not particularly limited, and examples include coating the pouch surface with the ingredient, impregnating the pouch with the ingredient, and, in the case of a pouch made of fibers, containing the ingredient in the fibers. Furthermore, the appearance of the pouch is not particularly limited, and may be not only non-transparent but also translucent or transparent, in which case the composition packaged in the pouch can be seen through.

[0044] The above-described acid to be contained in the oral composition may be added to the pouch (packaging material). The method of addition is not particularly limited, and an example of the method is to immerse the pouch (packaging material) in a solution in which the above-described acid is dissolved, and then dry it. By adding an acid to the packaging material, the pH value at 25°C of the artificial saliva in which the pouch product described below is dispersed can be adjusted. Specifically, the pH of the pouch product can be adjusted to be lower than the pH of the oral composition in the pouch. The pH of the pouch product can be measured under the same conditions as those for measuring the pH of the oral composition after adjusting the weight of the oral composition contained therein. The pH range of the pouch product when dispersed in artificial saliva at 25°C is preferably the same as the pH range of the oral composition described above. That is, it is less than 6.7, preferably 6.0 or less, more preferably 5.0 or less, even more preferably 4.0 or less, and particularly preferably 3.0 or less. Also, it is usually 1.5 or more, preferably 1.8 or more. In addition, when an acid is added to the pouch (packaging material), even if the pH of the oral composition is not within the particularly preferred range, an embodiment in which the pH of the pouch product is within the particularly preferred range is a preferred embodiment.

[0045] [Pouch products] There are no particular limitations on the pouch product, so long as it comprises the oral composition and the pouch in which the oral composition is packaged (the oral composition is enclosed in the pouch). The size and weight of the pouch product are not particularly limited, and the size of the pouch product before use may be 25 mm (28 mm, 35 mm, 38 mm) or more and 40 mm or less in length, or 28 mm or more and 38 mm or less in length, and 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less in length, or 14 mm or more and 18 mm or less in length. In addition, the weight of the pouch product before use may be 0.1 g or more and 2.0 g or less, or 0.3 g or more and 1.0 g or less. The weight ratio of the oral composition to the total weight of the pouch product is not particularly limited, but is usually 80% by weight or more, preferably 85% by weight or more, and more preferably 90% by weight or more, and is usually 99% by weight or less, preferably 97% by weight or less, and more preferably 95% by weight or less.

[0046] In the measurement of each characteristic in this specification, the measurement sample is kept in an environment similar to the measurement environment for 48 hours or more before the measurement. In addition, the measurement temperature, measurement humidity, and measurement pressure are normal temperature (22±2°C), normal humidity (60±5% RH), and normal pressure (atmospheric pressure) unless otherwise specified.

[0047] As a pouch product, the above-mentioned acid-free oral composition may be enclosed in an acid-added pouch (packaging material). In this case, the composition of the oral composition may be the same as described above except that it does not contain acid. In addition, the amount of acid added to the pouch in this case is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 10% by weight or more, preferably 15% by weight or more, and 30% by weight or less, preferably 25% by weight or less, based on the total amount of the oral composition contained and the acid added.

[0048] <Manufacturing method of oral pouch products> The method for producing an oral pouch product (also simply referred to as a "production method") is a production method having a composition production step for producing a composition containing at least nicotine, an acid, and a base material.

[0049] [Manufacturing process of oral composition] The manufacturing process of the above oral composition is not particularly limited as long as the above composition can be manufactured. An example of the manufacturing method of the composition is shown below. Each of the raw materials shown below can be the same as the raw materials described above. First, a nicotine source, an acid, a base material, and an optional ingredient, a sweetener and a whitening agent such as silicon dioxide, are mixed in a mixer to obtain a mixture. If necessary, water and heating may be added. Next, optional ingredients such as a fragrance and a moisturizing agent are added, and the mixture is stirred and mixed to obtain a composition. The acid may be added at the same time as the subsequent stirring and mixing. The mixture is preferably pH-adjusted, and the type and amount of the acid may be adjusted. For example, in the case of moist type, it is preferable to use a pH adjuster such as sodium dihydrogen phosphate to adjust the amount added so that the mixture becomes acidic. Specifically, the pH of the mixture is preferably 1.5 to 6.0, more preferably 1.7 to 4.0. By adjusting the pH of the oral composition to 6.0 or less, the nicotine contained in the mixture can be maintained in a stable state.

[0050] If necessary, the pre-heated mixture may be subjected to a heating treatment, for example, when a moist product is to be produced. After preparing the mixture, the mixture may be dried (drying step). Then, the mixture may be cooled. Cooling may be performed naturally or by using some cooling means (cooling step). By drying, the water content of the mixture can be adjusted to a desired value between 5 and 55% by weight. This makes it easy to adjust the water content of the oral composition as the target product.

[0051] An aqueous solution containing a pH adjuster may be further added to the mixture obtained in the above step (or the drying step or cooling step). The amount of the pH adjuster added can be adjusted so that the mixture becomes acidic. Specifically, the pH of the mixture is preferably 6.0 or less, more preferably 4.0 or less, and particularly preferably 3.0 or less. On the other hand, the pH of the mixture is preferably 1.5 or more, and more preferably 1.7 or more. A sweetener such as acesulfame potassium, a flavoring such as menthol, a bitterness suppressant such as soy lecithin, and a moisturizing agent such as glycerin are added (additive addition step to the gel particle-containing mixture) to obtain the desired composition. When the additives are added, they may be added in the form of a solid or an aqueous solution in which they are dissolved in water. When they are added in the form of an aqueous solution, they may be added after being dissolved in a predetermined amount of water so as to achieve the final moisture content of the pouch product.

[0052] [Packaging process] The composition obtained in the above-mentioned oral composition production process is packaged in a packaging material to obtain a pouch product (packaging process). The packaging method is not particularly limited, and a known method can be applied, for example, a method in which the above-mentioned composition is poured into a bag-shaped nonwoven fabric and then sealed, or the like. In the packaging step, after the composition is put into the packaging material and the packaging material is sealed, water may be further added to obtain a composition having a desired water content (water addition step). For example, if the water content of the target composition is 50% by weight and the water content of the composition obtained in the above composition preparation step is 15% by weight, the remaining 35% by weight of water is added.

[0053] <Applications of pouch products> The uses (modes of use) of pouch products are not particularly limited, but examples include oral tobacco such as chewing tobacco, snuff, and compressed tobacco, and nicotine-containing stimulant preparations called nicotine pouches, etc. These are inserted between the lips and gums in the oral cavity to enjoy the taste and aroma. EXAMPLES

[0054] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the following examples.

[0055] <Experiment 1> [Preparation of oral composition] (Example 1, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2) First, an oral composition of Comparative Example 2 was prepared with the blending ratio shown in Table 1. Next, oral compositions of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were prepared by adding citric acid to the oral composition in the amount shown in Table 1. The pH and whiteness (WI E313-73 (2° field of view, C light source)) of the obtained oral compositions are also shown in Table 1.

[0056] [Table 1]

[0057] <Production of pouch products> Each of the above compositions was applied to a nonwoven fabric (manufactured by BFF technical fabrics, basis weight 27.0 g / m) so that, for example, 0.65 g / piece was applied. 2 ) and then heat-sealed to produce a pouch product.

[0058] [Characteristics evaluation] (moisture content) The water content (moisture content) of each composition was measured using a heat-dry type moisture meter (for example, HB 43-S manufactured by METTER TOLEDO). Measurement mode: FAST ·Achieved temperature (when stable): 100℃ Measurement end condition: AUTO60 (change of 1 mg or less in 60 seconds) ·Result display:Moisture%

[0059] (pH) The pH of the oral composition dispersed in the artificial saliva at a measurement temperature of 25° C. was measured using a pH analyzer (e.g., HORIBA, Ltd.: LAQUA F-72 flat ISFET pH electrode). The artificial saliva was prepared by the method described above. The calibration of the instrument was performed by three-point calibration using, for example, a phthalic acid pH standard solution (pH 4.01), a neutral phosphate pH standard solution (pH 6.86), and a borate pH standard solution (pH 9.18) (all from Wako Pure Chemical Industries).

[0060] (whiteness) The color measurement was performed by placing the sample on a glass petri dish and using the measuring device and measuring principle described above.

[0061] (Measurement of nicotine release) The amount of nicotine released from each pouch product was measured using a dissolution tester, BIO-DIS Reciprocating Cylinder Apparatus (compliant with USP Apparatus 3) manufactured by Agilent. The test conditions were: temperature 37°C, dip speed (reciprocating motion) 6 DPM (dip per minute), and travel distance 10 cm. Four pouches were set in one inner tube, and 240 mL of the artificial saliva described above was used as the test liquid. The sampling times for the eluate were 0.1, 2, 5, 7.5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 minutes.

[0062] (result) The results of the dissolution test to confirm the amount of nicotine released are shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows the ratio of the amount of nicotine dissolved to the amount of nicotine contained in the pouch over time. The amount of nicotine dissolved in Example 1 (acidic pouch) was greater than that in Comparative Example 1 (neutral pouch) and Comparative Example 2 (basic pouch), and it was confirmed that the dissolution of nicotine was accelerated in Example 1 (acidic pouch).

[0063] <Saliva release test> Oral compositions having the compositions shown in Table 2 below were prepared. As in Example 1, etc., each oral composition was filled into a nonwoven fabric to produce a pouch product. In Example 3, citric acid was added to the nonwoven fabric by immersing the nonwoven fabric in a 50% by weight citric acid solution and then drying it. The pH of the oral compositions was measured in the same manner as in Example 1, etc. In Example 3, the pH of the pouch product was also measured. [Table 2] The absorbent cotton and the pouch product prepared above were placed in an empty disposable container, and the weight was measured on a balance (weight (A)). The absorbent cotton and the pouch product were placed in the mouth of a panelist, and the weight was measured on a balance (weight (A)). The time was measured using a scale. After 1 minute, the panelist removed the degreased face and the pouch product from their mouth and placed them in an empty container. The weight of this container (weight (B)) was measured using a scale. The amount of saliva was calculated by subtracting weight (A) from weight (B). Panelists were required to rinse their mouths after each test and there was a 5-minute interval before the next test. The panel consisted of seven people. The test results are shown in Table 3. [Table 3]

[0064] From the results in Table 3, it was found that when an oral composition in which artificial saliva is acidic at 25° C. is used, saliva secretion in the oral cavity of the user is promoted. This suggests that the promotion of release of nicotine contained in the oral composition is due to the contribution of increased saliva secretion in the oral cavity of the user.

[0065] As described above, the present invention can provide an oral composition and an oral pouch product that provide good nicotine release to the user.

Claims

1. The oral composition comprises nicotine, an acid, and a base material, the acid being added externally, and an artificial saliva in which the oral composition is dispersed is acidic at 25°C.

2. The oral composition of claim 1 , wherein the oral composition comprises a tobacco material and the nicotine is derived from the tobacco material.

3. The oral composition according to claim 1, wherein the oral composition comprises an ion exchange resin carrying nicotine, and the nicotine contained in the oral composition is derived from the ion exchange resin carrying nicotine.

4. The oral composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base material is at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, spherical cellulose and porous cellulose, and the content of the base material is 50% by weight or more based on the total amount of the oral composition.

5. The oral composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of organic acids and salts thereof.

6. The oral composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the acid is an organic acid, and the organic acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of malic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, lactic acid, butyric acid, L-ascorbic acid, glutamic acid and aspartic acid.

7. The oral composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the oral composition has a whiteness of 10 or more and 100 or less.

8. The oral composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the oral composition is composed of a plurality of solid particles.

9. 9. An oral pouch product comprising: a packaging material for packaging an oral composition; and the oral composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8 packaged in said packaging material.

10. 10. The oral pouch product of claim 9, wherein the packaging material has an acid added thereto.

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