Phenols in Tobacco Leaves and Tobacco Smoke / Über die phenolischen Inhaltsstoffe des Tabaks und des Tabakrauches

Abstract This paper reviews 1.the plant phenols occurring in tobacco leaves, and 2.the phenols of tobacco smoke. These constituents are summarized in 2 tables. The leaf contains mainly quinic acid esters of hydroxy-cinnamic acids (chlorogenic acids), flavonol-glycosides, and hydroxy-coumarins. Main constituents are chlorogenic acid and rutin. Tobacco smoke does not contain these compounds, but a number of simpler phenols and phenol ethers, and phenolic acids. Besides this paper describes the transformation of plant phenols by the curing of tobacco, such as the formation of brown complex products from chlorogenic acid and rutin. Furthermore, the biosynthesis of plant phenols, their importance for the quality of tobacco, their phytopathological importance, and the effect of phenols occurring in tobacco leaves and tobacco smoke on the human organism are shortly reviewed