Gosset Acetaldehyde Overview
Acetaldehyde is a small, colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid organic compound with the formula CH₃CHO (C₂H₄O), commonly known as ethanal. It is an important intermediate in the metabolism of ethanol to acetic acid in humans and other organisms, being formed primarily in the liver by the oxidation of ethanol via the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase and subsequently metabolized by aldehyde dehydrogenase to acetic acid. Acetaldehyde is also found naturally in the environment and in foods such as ripe fruits, bread, and coffee. It plays a major toxicological role in alcohol-induced organ damage and is considered carcinogenic; elevated levels are associated with flushed skin (the "Asian flush" reaction), tissue irritation, headache, nausea, and increased risk of cancer, especially in heavy drinkers and people with impaired aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. Summary: Acetaldehyde is a chemical and metabolic intermediate, not a drug target (receptor/protein). It is a biomarker and cause of toxicity, not a therapeutic target for drug binding; related drugs work by influencing its formation or breakdown, not by directly "binding" acetaldehyde.
Mechanism of Action
No drugs directly "target" acetaldehyde; rather, drugs act by modulating enzymes that generate or further metabolize acetaldehyde (e.g., aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors cause acetaldehyde accumulation)
Biological Functions
Disease Associations
Safety Considerations
- Carcinogenicity (acetaldehyde is classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by IARC)
- Toxicity (can cause mucosal irritation, CNS depression, flushing, nausea, and organ damage at high concentrations)
Interacting Drugs
Associated Biomarkers
| Biomarker |
|---|
| Blood/serum acetaldehyde levels (used in toxicology or to monitor efficacy of drugs like disulfiram) |