Provided herein are bacterial strains that are capable of degrading nitrite and/or TSNAs. Also provided herein are methods of using such bacterial strains to degrade nitrite and/or TSNAs.

A method of preparing a whitened tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (i) extracting a tobacco material with an aqueous solution to give a tobacco pulp and a tobacco extract; (ii) treating the tobacco pulp with at least one of a caustic reagent and an oxidizing agent for a time and at a temperature sufficient to lighten the color of the tobacco pulp to give a whitened tobacco pulp; (iii) clarifying the tobacco extract to remove higher molecular weight components; and (iv) combining the whitened tobacco pulp with a clarified tobacco extract to form a whitened tobacco material. The whitened tobacco material can be isolated and incorporated into a smokeless tobacco product. The invention also provides a smokeless tobacco product incorporating a whitened tobacco material. The smokeless tobacco product may be a snus-type formulation contained within a sealed pouch.

The present invention provides a method for modulating the alkaloid content of a plant (e.g. a tobacco plant), the method comprising modifying said plant by modulating the activity or expression of at least one Nic1 ERF gene. The present invention also provides for the use of at least one Nic1 ERF gene for modulating the alkaloid content of a plant, as well as tobacco cells, plants, plant propagation materials, harvested leaves, processed tobaccos, or tobacco products obtainable in accordance with the invention.

A method of preparing a whitened tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (i) extracting a tobacco material with an aqueous solution to give a tobacco pulp and a tobacco extract; (ii) treating the tobacco pulp with at least one of a caustic reagent and an oxidizing agent for a time and at a temperature sufficient to lighten the color of the tobacco pulp to give a whitened tobacco pulp; (iii) clarifying the tobacco extract to remove higher molecular weight components; and (iv) combining the whitened tobacco pulp with a clarified tobacco extract to form a whitened tobacco material. The whitened tobacco material can be isolated and incorporated into a smokeless tobacco product. The invention also provides a smokeless tobacco product incorporating a whitened tobacco material. The smokeless tobacco product may be a snus-type formulation contained within a sealed pouch.

An extraction method of a flavor constituent comprises: a step A for heating a tobacco raw material which is subjected to an alkali treatment; and a step B for bringing a release component released in the gas phase in the step A into contact with a collection solvent at normal temperature until any time from when a first condition is satisfied to when a second condition is satisfied. The first condition is determined based on a residual rate of nicotine component. The second condition is determined based on a remaining amount of nicotine component.

A smokeless tobacco product is provided that includes a tobacco material in the form of a tobacco extract, a particulate tobacco material, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the smokeless tobacco product is substantially translucent. Methods for making and using the smokeless tobacco product are also provided. The smokeless tobacco product can include isomalt, maltitol syrup, particulate tobacco, and a translucent tobacco extract prepared by ultrafiltration.

Immobilized diluents in a smoking article are provided, wherein diluents can be immobilized through absorption and/or adsorption of the diluents into immobilizing materials, such as sorbents like silica gels. By immobilizing diluents, the diluents can be available for vaporization, while still being protected from migration and/or loss of the diluents in a smoking article.

A smokeless tobacco product is provided that includes a tobacco material in the form of a tobacco extract, a particulate tobacco material, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the smokeless tobacco product is substantially translucent. Methods for making and using the smokeless tobacco product are also provided. The smokeless tobacco product can include isomalt, maltitol syrup, particulate tobacco, and a translucent tobacco extract prepared by ultrafiltration.

A melt spun tobacco composition, e.g., in flake or particle form, for oral use in a mammal made by melt spinning comprising tobacco and/or a tobacco extract and at least one material which is solid at room temperature, which melts at or below 500 F., and carries from 1% to 70% of tobacco when processed through melt spinning, and solidifies again in less than 5 seconds after melt spinning.

Embodiments described herein include a method of making a tobacco extract comprising; (a) contacting tobacco with an extraction solvent such that tobacco components are extracted from the tobacco into the solvent, wherein the extraction solvent comprises a supercritical fluid; (b) separating residual tobacco solids from the extraction solvent containing tobacco components; (c) providing an entrapment solvent in a vessel, exposing the extraction solvent containing tobacco components to conditions in that vessel, wherein the conditions in the vessel are such that the extraction solvent is subcritical, thereby releasing the tobacco components from the extraction solvent, and wherein the entrapment solvent dissolves the tobacco components released from the extraction solvent.