The Effect of Plant Compounds from Whisky Cask on Horse Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase Activity

Aged whisky contains many plant derived compounds from oak wood cask, and the color of whisky gradually changes to deep amber. More than 500 kinds of compounds are known as minor components in aged whisky. The taste of whisky becomes smooth with aging, and we can sober up feeling good. However, detail effect of these plant derived components from whisky cask on alcohol metabolism has not been clarified. In this experiment, we investigated the relation between the structure of components and the rate of ethanol oxidation reaction by using 26 kinds of plant derived components from oak wood cask and its derivatives. All the compounds which we used have a benzene ring as a basic frame, and have a hydroxyl group, an aldehyde group, and a carboxyl group further. All 26 compounds from oak wood cask and its derivatives used in this experiment were inhibited the ethanol oxidation. Interestingly, the relative activity of compound with an aldehyde group (Benzaldehyde and its derivatives) inhibited most strongly to be 30~40%. However, the relative activity of Benzaldehyde with one hydroxyl group had about 70% of relative activity and it had only one hydroxyl group, it clarified that the inhibition effect becomes weaker. The inhibition effect of compounds with calboxyl group (Benzoic acid and its derivatives) was weak and showed 90% of re lative activity. However, in contrast to the case of Benzaldehyde, the inhabitation effect of Benzoic acid only with one hydroxyl group becomes strong. From these results, it is clarified that many compounds from oak wood cask inhibite the ethanol oxidation. But the mechanism of inhabitation is complex and the additivity of the functional group contribution is not applied simply.