tobacco
Tobacco is a herbal product made from the leaves of plants of the genus Tobacco. Of the approximately 75 species of the genus, however, only two are important for tobacco production: the Virginian tobacco and the peasant tobacco. The Nicotiana species are mainly native to South America, some also in Australia and North America. Nicotine, a colorless, liquid alkaloid as well as ammonia, cellulose and protein are among the most important components of the tobacco. In small quantities also natural resin, vegetable wax, starch, sugar, tannic acid, malic acid, citric acid, nitric acid, oxalic acid, potash, soda, lime, magnesia, iron, chlorine. Not all substances are known, but it is estimated that, for example, 6,000-12,000 chemical substances are contained in a cigarette and its smoke. Although tobacco smoking is classified as harmful to health and tobacco advertising is severely restricted, the tobacco industry is a significant employer on a regional basis and tobacco tax is an important revenue of many countries.