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Related Concept Videos

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine01:27

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

334
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
334
Depressants01:28

Depressants

167
Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
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Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions02:15

Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions

6.4K
Overview
The acid-catalyzed addition of water to the double bond of alkenes is a large-scale industrial method used to synthesize low-molecular-weight alcohols. An acidic atmosphere is required to allow the hydrogen in the water molecule to act as an electrophile and attack the double bond in an alkene. The addition of a proton to the double bond creates a carbocation intermediate. The proton preferentially bonds to the less substituted end of the double bond to create a more stable carbocation...
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Preparation of Alcohols via Substitution Reactions01:38

Preparation of Alcohols via Substitution Reactions

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Overview
Alcohols can be synthesized from alkyl halides via nucleophilic substitution reactions. The highly polar carbon-halogen bond in the substrate makes halide a good leaving group.  The hydroxide ion or water can act as a nucleophile to take the place of halide and form an alcohol. The substitution reactions occur via two different reaction pathways, SN1 or SN2,  depending on the nature of carbon attached to the halide.
Primary alcohols are synthesized from primary alkyl halides, and the...
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Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction02:23

Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction

10.7K
Reduction is a simple strategy to convert a carbonyl group to a hydroxyl group. The three major pathways to reduce carbonyls to alcohols are catalytic hydrogenation, hydride reduction, and borane reduction.
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...
10.7K
Aldehydes and Ketones with Alcohols: Hemiacetal Formation01:19

Aldehydes and Ketones with Alcohols: Hemiacetal Formation

6.8K
Similar to water, alcohols can add to the carbonyl carbon of the aldehydes and ketones. The addition of one molecule of alcohol to the carbonyl compound forms the hemiacetal or half acetal. As depicted below, in a hemiacetal, the carbon is directly linked to an OH and OR group.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 27, 2025

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
07:31

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice

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Functional Alternatives to Alcohol.

David J Nutt1, Robin J Tyacke1, Meg Spriggs1

  • 1GABA Labs (Research) Ltd., Old Town Court, 70 Queensway, Suite 2, Hemel Hempstead HP2 5HD, UK.

Nutrients
|September 23, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Governments aim to reduce alcohol harms by developing safe, functional alternatives. These drinks mimic alcohol's social effects without the health risks, focusing on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system.

Keywords:
GABAGABAARalcoholbotanicalsethanolgamma-aminobutyric acidsociability

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Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis
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Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
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Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Alcohol consumption presents significant health risks, prompting global efforts to reduce its intake.
  • Non-alcoholic beverages are emerging as alternatives, particularly among health-conscious consumers, but often lack alcohol's social facilitation.
  • Social drinking is a key driver of alcohol consumption, highlighting the need for alternatives that support pro-social interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol's desirable and harmful effects, with a focus on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system.
  • To investigate the potential for developing functional, non-alcoholic beverages that replicate alcohol's positive, pro-social effects.
  • To analyze the regulatory landscape for novel, safe alcohol alternatives.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature on alcohol's action in the brain, particularly the GABAergic system.
  • Exploration of existing natural molecules and synthetic compounds for potential use in functional drinks.
  • Analysis of regulatory frameworks and challenges for novel beverage development.

Main Results:

  • Alcohol exerts its effects, including stress reduction and social facilitation, through complex interactions within the brain, notably involving the GABA neurotransmitter system.
  • Understanding these mechanisms provides a basis for designing safe, functional alternatives that mimic alcohol's desirable effects.
  • Development of such alternatives faces significant regulatory hurdles from research to market.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting the GABA system offers a promising pathway for creating non-alcoholic functional drinks that promote social interaction without the adverse health consequences of alcohol.
  • Further research and development are needed to translate this scientific understanding into viable, safe, and socially acceptable products.
  • Navigating regulatory pathways will be crucial for the successful introduction of these innovative alternatives to the market.