Cigarette filter containing rosemary extract and a method of reducing dna damage caused by harmful agents in cigarette smoke by use of said filter

Abstract

The invention relates to a cigarette filter containing rosemary extract and a method of reducing DNA damage caused by various harmful agents in cigarette smoke. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of said filter to reduce DNA damage caused by benzo (a) pyrenes in human cells by the reduction of the human lung benzo (a) pyrene diol epoxide-dG (BPDE-dG) adduct.

1 . A method for reducing human lung benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide-dG (BPDE-dG) adducts from cigarette smoke generated by smoking a cigarette having a filter, said method comprising the steps of passing the cigarette smoke through the filter wherein said filter is impregnated by an extract of a plant from the Labiatae family wherein said extract comprises polyphenol compounds or derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plant is rosemary. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the extract is generated by extraction with an alcoholic solvent or an aqueous alcoholic solvent. 
     
     
         4 . A method for reducing human lung benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide-dG (BPDE-dG) adducts from cigarette smoke generated by smoking a cigarette having a filter, said method comprising the steps of passing the cigarette smoke through the filter wherein said filter is impregnated by a mixture comprising at least one polyphenol compound or its derivative. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the mixture comprises at least one polyphenol compound or a derivative thereof selected from the group consisting of carnosol, rosmanol, rosmarinic acid, and carnosic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the mixture comprises carnosol, carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid, and rosemanol. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the mixture comprises carnosic acid or carnosol. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the filter comprises from 0.5 g to 0.1 mg of at least one polyphenol compound or its derivative. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the filter comprises 0.01 g of at least one polyphenol compound or its derivative. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one polyphenol or its derivative is coupled to a polymeric carrier or is in a microcapsule matrix or is added to the fibers of a filter.