Influence of Whisky Congeners on Health - The Institute of Brewing ...

Whiskies showed the tendency to inhibit the xanthine oxidase activity, and the
inhibitory activity increased with the time whisky is stored in an oak cask (Fig. 6).
Sake A
Sake B
Shochu A
Shochu B
Brandy A
Brandy B
<strong>Whisky</strong> A (aged 10 years)
<strong>Whisky</strong> B (aged 10 years)
<strong>Whisky</strong> C (aged 12 years)
<strong>Whisky</strong> D (aged 18 years)
<strong>Whisky</strong> E (aged 25 years)
Activity at 250 μg / ml
0 20 40 60 80 1 00
XO inhibiting activity (%)
Figure 6 Xanthine oxidase (XO)-inhibiting activity <strong>of</strong> whisky
0.3 ml <strong>of</strong> the test substance was added to 2.6 ml <strong>of</strong> 15 μg/ml xanthine solution
and the mixture was preincubated, after which 0.1 ml <strong>of</strong> 0.044 unit/ml XO
solution was added and the mixture was incubated for 5 min. Absorbance at
290 nm was determined 5 min after the addition <strong>of</strong> XO, and XO-inhibiting activity
was calculated from the absorbance by using the following equation:
XO-inhibiting activity (%) = (absorbance in the presence <strong>of</strong> the test substance) /
(absorbance in the presence <strong>of</strong> equal concentration <strong>of</strong> alcohol) x 100
We isolated and purified this XOI active ingredient under the procedures described in
(figure 7) to identify the structure <strong>of</strong> ellagic acid. Regarding in vitro oxidase inhibiting
activity, the 50% inhibition was achieved with 260 mg/L <strong>of</strong> whisky congeners (single
malt, 12 years <strong>of</strong> storage) or with 4.9 mg/L <strong>of</strong> ellagic acid, in comparison with
allopurinol, a treatment for hyperuricemia and grout.