BIOCHEMISTRY OF DRUG METABOLISM: A REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjmhs.v4i4.171Keywords:
drug metabolism, enzyme, biochemistry, pharmacology, xenobioticsAbstract
Drug metabolism is a crucial process in the fields of pharmacology and biochemistry. It involves the conversion of medicinal chemicals in the body to aid in their removal. The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism, where enzymes incorporate reactive or polar groups into drug molecules. Drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play a vital role in the breakdown of foreign substances in the body. They facilitate the transformation of prodrugs into their active state, hence enhancing their pharmacological efficacy. Drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) are classified according to their specific mechanisms of drug metabolism, which may involve oxidative, reductive, and/or conjugative enzymes. These enzymes possess bio-activation routes and particular mechanisms of action to carry out their functions. The drug metabolism process involves the classification of metabolic reactions into either phase I or phase II reactions. In this review, a comprehensive explanation of xenobiotic metabolism, including how drugs function. The important biochemical characteristics and catalytic processes are detailed, along with a vast assortment of hydrolases and their nomenclature. The disciplines of medicine, toxicology, and environmental science are illustrated through several instances. The investigated mechanisms involve the hydrolysis of a range of unstable rings, such as carboxylic esters, amides, peptides, lactones, and esters generated by inorganic acids. The review provides an explanation of the enzymology and procedure involved in hydrating epoxides.
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