Ethyl alcohol is produced by fermenting sugars using yeast. It can be used to produce beverages like beer, wine, and spirits. Alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant, initially causing excitation but then impairing functions. It can also impact the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and liver systems. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to conditions like hypertension, pancreatitis, and cirrhosis.

1. ETHYL ALCOHOL

2. INTRODUCTION
 Alcohols – Hydroxy derivatives of aliphatic
hydrocarbons
 Manufactured by fermentation of sugars
C6H12O6 2CO2 + 2C2H5OH
• Fermentation proceeds till alcohol content reaches 15%
• Then reaction is inhibited by alcohol itself
STARCH MALTOSE
• Major source – Mollases, byproduct of sugar industry
ZYMASE (IN YEAST)
CONVERTASE

3. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
 MALTED LIQUORS
 WINES
* LIGHT
* FORTIFIED
* EFFERVESCENT
 SPIRITS

4. MALTED LIQUORS
 Obtained by fermentation of germinating cereals
 Undistilled – alcohol content is low (3-6%)
 Eg : Beers , Stout

5. WINES
• Fermentation of natural sugars as present in grapes
and other fruits
• Undistilled
• Light wines (alcohol content 9-12%)
• Fortified wines (alcohol content 16-22%)
• Effervescent wines (alcohol content 12-16%)
• Dry – all sugar fermented
• Sweet – some sugar is left

6. SPIRITS
 Distilled after
fermentation
 Alcohol content varies
from 40-55%
 Eg : Brandy, Whisky , Vodka , Rum etc

7. OTHER FORMS
 ABSOLUTE ALCOHOL – 99% w/w ethanol
 RECTIFIED SPIRIT – 90% w/w ethanol produced
from mollases by distillation
 PROOF SPIRIT- 100% proof spirit is 49.29% w/w
or 57.1% v/v alcohol
 METHYLATED SPIRIT (INDUSTRIAL)- denatured
spirit, adding 5 parts of methanol to 95 parts of
rectified spirit. Tinted blue

8. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS
 Local actions
 Central nervous system
 Cardio vascular system
 Body temperature
 Respiratory system
 Gastrointestinal system
 Skeletal Muscle
 Kidneys
 Reproductive system
 Endocrine system

9. LOCAL ACTIONS
 Mild rubefacient and counterirritant on skin
 Applied to delicate skin or mucous membranes
produce irritation and burning sensation
 When injected, it causes intense pain, inflammation
and necrosis followed by fibrosis

10.  Applied to surface , alcohol is an astringent –
precipitates surface proteins and hardens skin
 Acts as an antiseptic – 100% ethanol is more
dehydrating but poorer antiseptic than 90%
ethanol
 Does not kill bacterial spores

11. ACTIONS ON CNS
 Neuronal depressant
 Excitation and euphoria experienced
at lower plasma
concentration (30-60mg/dl)
 Hesitation , caution, self criticism
and restraint lost first
 Mood and feelings altered,
anxiety may be allayed

12. • With increasing concentration (80-150mg/dl) mental
clouding, disorganisation of thought , impairment of
attention and memory, alteration of gait and
perception, and drowsiness supervene.
• At 150-200mg/dl , person is sloppy, ataxic and
blackouts occur
• 200-300mg/dl result in stupor
• Above this, unconsciousness prevails, medullary
centres paralysed and death may occur

13.  Can produce anaesthesia
 Cause slowing of reflexes
 Performance is impaired, fine discrimination and
precise movements obliterated, errors increase
 Can induce sleep. Sleep architecture disorganised
and sleep apnoea aggravated
 Headache, dry mouth, laziness , disturbed mood ,
impaired performance may occur next morning

14.  Raises pain threshold- severe pain can precipitate
confusion and convulsions
 When acts on brain, it exerts anti convulsant action,
but this is followed by lowering of threshold:
seizures maybe precipitated in epileptics
 Chronic alcohol abuse damages brain neurons,
cause shrinkage of brain

15. ACTIONS ON CVS
 Small doses – cutaneous (especially in face) and
gastric vasodilatation. Skin is warm and flushed. BP
not affected
 Moderate doses- tachycardia, mild rise in BP (due to
mild muscular activity and sympathetic stimulation)

16.  Large doses – direct myocardial and vasomotor
centre depression and fall in BP
• Chronic alcoholism contribute to hypertension and
lead to cardiomyopathy.
• Atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias may
occur due to conduction defects and Q-T
prolongation

17. ACTION ON BLOOD
 Regular intake of small to moderate amounts
of alcohol (1-2 drinks) raise HDL- cholesterol
levels and decrease LDL oxidation
 Responsible for the 15-35% lower incidence
of coronary artery disease
 Protection lost if ≥ 3 drinks consumed daily
 Megaloblastic anemia is common in chronic
alcoholics due to interference with folate
metabolism

18. ACTION ON BODY TEMPERATURE
 Reputed to combat cold
 Produce a sense of warmth due to
cutaneous and gastric vasodilatation,
but heat loss is actually increased in
cold temperature
 High doses depress temperature
regulating centre

19. ACTION ON RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
 Brandy or whiskey reputed as respiratory
stimulants in collapse
 They irritate buccal and pharyngeal
mucosa – transiently stimulate respiration
reflexly
 Direct action of alcohol on respiratory
centre is a depressant one

20. ACTION ON GIT
 Dilute alcohol (optimum 10%)
put in stomach by Ryle’s tube
is a strong stimulant of gastric
secretion (acid)
 Higher concentration (above
20%) inhibit gastric secretion
causing vomiting, mucosal
congestion and gastritis

21.  Alcoholism – important cause of chronic
gastritis
 Lower esophageal sphincter tone reduced
 Bowel movements may be altered in either
direction
 Acute pancreatitis – complication of heavy
drinking

22. ACTION ON LIVER
 Mobilize peripheral fat and increases fat synthesis in
liver in a dose dependent manner
 Proteins accumulate in liver as their secretion is
decreased
 Chronic alcoholism exposes liver to oxidative stress
and cause cellular necrosis followed by fibrosis

23.  Acetaldehyde produced during metabolism of
alcohol – damage hepatocytes and induce
inflammation
 Increased lipid peroxidation and glutathione
depletion occurs
 These combined with vitamin and other nutritional
deficiencies – alcoholic cirrhosis
 Regular intake induce microsomal enzymes

24. ACTION ON SKELETAL MUSCLE
 Produce little direct effect
 Fatigue caused by small doses
 Muscle work increased or
decreased depending on
predominating central effect
 Weakness and myopathy –
chronic alcoholism

25. ACTION ON KIDNEYS
 Diuresis
 Due to water ingested along with
drinks and alcohol induced
inhibition of ADH secretion
 Does not impair renal function

26. ACTION ON REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 Reputed as aphrodisiac
 Aggressive sexual behaviour- due to loss of restraint and
inhibition
 Performance of sexual act is often impaired
 Chronic alcoholism produce impotence, testicular atrophy ,
gynaecomastia and infertility in both men and women
 Uterine contractions suppressed at moderate blood levels

27. ACTION ON ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
 Moderate amounts increase adrenaline release
which cause hyperglycemia and other
sympathetic effects
 Acute intoxication – hypoglycemia and
depletion of hepatic glycogen because
gluconeogenesis is inhibited
 Glucagon fails to reverse it and glucose must
be given to counteract hypoglycemia