본 연구는 대구 무형문화재 제11호인 하향주의 품질 우수성을 규명하고자 향기성분 분석 후 랫드에 대한 알코올 대사 특성을 조사하였다. GC/MS 분석시, 하향주는 iso-butyl alcohol과 iso-amyl alcohol 등을 포함하여 17가지의 향기성분이 분석되었고 여과에 의해 acetaldehyde와 ethylacetate의 농도는 낮아짐을 확인하였다. 하향주와 동일한 농도인 17% 알코올을 SD계 랫드에 단회 경구 투여시 혈중 알코올 농도와 acetaldehyde 농도가 하향주 투여군이 낮았으며, 5시간 뒤 간조직에서 alcohol dehyogenase와 acetaldehyde dehyogenase의 농도는 하향주 투여군이 17% 알코올 투여군보다 높았다. 따라서 하향주는 동일농도의 17% 알코올 투여군보다 알코올 대사를 촉진시켜 숙취를 감소시킴을 확인하였다.
This study was conducted to examine the volatile flavor compounds of Hahyangju, a traditional Korean liquor, and to evaluate the effect of the beverage on alcohol metabolism in rats. By GC/MS analysis, 17 volatile flavor compounds including iso-butyl alcohol and iso-amyl alcohol were detected in Hahyangju. The concentrations of acetaldehyde and ethylacetate in Hahyangju were decreased by filtration. Alcohol (0.035 mg/dL) and acetaldehyde (0.29 mg/dL) levels in the blood of rats given Hahyangju (HT animals) were lower than in rats given 17% (v/v) alcohol (AT rats). Also, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities in HT rats were $24.63{pm}1.8{mu}$moles/mg protein and $9.8{pm}1.3{mu}$moles/mg protein, respectively, and were higher than in AT animals. The increases in ADH and ALDH activity in HT animals resulted in decreases in alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations in blood, compared to the levels seen in rats given 17% (v/v) alcohol. These results suggest that Hahyangju may increase alcohol metabolizing activity, and consumption of Hahyangju may result in less of a hangover than follows ingestion of beverages (such as wine) containing about 17% (v/v) alcohol.
