Effects of fusel oil on animal hangover models.
BACKGROUND
Fusel oil has been reported to have undesirable side effects such as hangover. However, the relationship between fusel oil and hangover has been investigated insufficiently. In this study, we investigated the effects of fusel oil and their ingredients contained in alcoholic beverages by using animal hangover models.


METHODS
Ethanol and fusel oil were simultaneously administered to Suncus murinus, and emetic responses were observed for 60 min. Ethanol and fusel oil were simultaneously administered to mice immediately after intake of saccharin solution; on the next day, the mouse's saccharin solution intake was measured.


RESULTS
The volatile fraction (fusel oil) of whisky had no remarkable effect on ethanol-induced emetic responses in suncus. Whisky had the most suppressive effect on ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversion in mice among the various alcoholic beverages tested. The volatile fraction (fusel oil) of whisky suppressed the ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversion. In contrast, the nonvolatile fraction of whisky had no effect. The administration of isoamyl alcohol (5 mg/kg) and isoamyl acetate (10 and 40 microg/kg), ingredients of fusel oil, significantly suppressed the ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversion.


CONCLUSIONS
The fusel oil in whisky had no effect on the ethanol-induced emetic response, but it suppressed taste-aversion behavior in animal models of hangover symptoms. These results suggest that the fusel oil in whisky alleviates hangover, contrary to the common belief.
Hori
Hisako
H
Institute for Biological Safety Assessment, Suntory Limited, Osaka, Japan. hisako_hori@suntory.co.jp
Fujii
Wataru
W
Hatanaka
Yutaka
Y
Suwa
Yoshihide
Y
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000633:toxicity*; D000438:Alcohols / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D000439:Pentanols / Q000633:toxicity; D012439:Saccharin; D012788:Shrews; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology
D000438:Alcohols; D000439:Pentanols; C007807:fusel oil; C029683:isopentyl alcohol; D012439:Saccharin; C020377:isoamyl acetate