US 7,556,046 B2
Method of reducing nitrosamines content in tobacco leaves
Kazuharu Koga, Oyama (Japan); and Satoshi Katsuya, Oyama (Japan)
Assigned to Japan Tobacco Inc., Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Nov. 05, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/981,684.
Application 10/981684 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP03/05845, filed on May 09, 2003.
Claims priority of application No. 2002-135777 (JP), filed on May 10, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2005/0115576 A1, Jun. 02, 2005
Int. Cl. A24B 3/10 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 131—290 9 Claims
 
1. A method of reducing the content of Tobacco Specific Nitrosamines (TSNA) in a tobacco leaf, comprising:
1) applying an isolated microorganism of Sphingornonas paucimobilis LG5 strain (FERM BP-7830) which has the capability to reduce TSNA to a tobacco leaf by any one of the following treatments i) to iii), in a period from the time after harvest of the tobacco leaf to the time when completing a storage process, to produce a treated tobacco leaf:
i) at least one time of spraying of a liquid suspension or a dry powder comprising the isolated microorganism;
ii) at least one time of coating of the liquid suspension or the dry powder comprising the isolated microorganism; and
iii) at least one time of immersion in the liquid suspension comprising the isolated microorganism, and
2) curing the treated tobacco leaf wherein a cured tobacco leaf has a lower TSNA content as compared with an untreated tobacco leaf.