Drinking “Vodka” or vodka - This is a question

- Drinking 2-methyl-2-butanol (2M2B, “Vodka”) is gaining popularity especially among young people in Eastern Europe
- The toxicity of 2M2B was tested on a HEK293 cell line with the use of MTT assay and 2 microscopic techniques
- The toxicity of 2M2B was compared to that of ethanol or 3-methyl-1-butanol (3M1B)
- The toxicity of 2M2B was slightly higher than the one induced by ethanol but much smaller in comparison to that of 3M1B.
- The toxicity of the alcohols and especially that of 3M1B was ascribed to cell membrane injury due to their solvent properties.

“Vodka” i.e. 2-methyl-2-butanol (2M2B) is growing in popularity as a substance of abuse, especially among East European youngsters. At present, there is not much data regarding its toxicity both in humans and animals.The direct effect of 2M2B on human tissue was evaluated and compared to that of two other alcohols (ethanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol). The used concentrations corresponded to those obtained from consumers of 2M2B. The experiments were carried out on HEK293 cell line with the use of the following techniques: MTT test, phase contrast and fluorescent microscopy.The MTT test indicated that the toxicity of 2M2B was comparable to that of ethanol, but it was much lower than that observed after 3-methyl-1-butanol (3M1B). The high toxicity of the latter alcohol was confirmed by the microscopy techniques. On the other hand, the toxicity of 2M2B - expressed by the reduction of the number of survived cells - was slightly higher compared to one induced by ethanol. Also, the values of pIC50 for each alcohol reflect its level of toxicity described above.On the basis of the literature data it is possible to argue that the toxicity of the tested alcohols results primarily from membrane damage induced by their solvent properties.