Advanced Researches on Lignin of Tobacco

Sense quality and safety of cigarette are of catholic concern in the tobacco industry. As one of the main biological macromolecules of tobacco cell wall, lignin participates the pyrolysis of cigarette forming small molecular substances such as CO, phenol and PAHs, and is closely related to sense quality and safety of cigarette. The advanced researches on structure, detection methods, influence factors of content, regulation and degradation of lignin in tobacco, and influence of lignin in cigarettes on sense quality and safety were reviewed. The results showed that tobacco lignin was guajacyl-syringyl lignin, its content was relevant to region, cultivated varieties and stalk position; lignin played an important role in sense quality and safety of cigarette; transgenic technology could control tobacco lignin from the source; lignin could be degraded by enzymolysis, microbiological deterioration and chemical degradation. This review could provide reference for cigarette and paper-making reconstituted tobacco development.