Tag: Biotransformation

The vast majority of medications are cleared from the system by two critical organs [1.2.3, 1.3.1]. So, what two organs are most drugs eliminated from? The answer lies in the powerful combination of the liver's metabolic function and the kidneys' excretory power [1.2.1, 1.3.4].

The liver is the primary organ responsible for breaking down an estimated 75% of all drugs used in clinical practice. This essential biological process of biotransformation answers the question: What organ is most heavily involved in drug metabolism?

The vast majority of drug biotransformation, over 70-80%, is handled by a specific family of enzymes known as Cytochrome P450 [1.6.1]. So, **what does it mean when a drug is biotransformed?** It is the process by which the body chemically alters a drug to facilitate its elimination [1.2.3, 1.2.6].

Did you know that the cytochrome P450 family of monooxygenases is responsible for metabolizing approximately 75% of all drugs currently on the market? These crucial enzymes catalyze the incorporation of a single oxygen atom from molecular oxygen into a vast array of substrates, facilitating vital biochemical transformations throughout the body.

The liver is the primary site for the metabolism of most drugs, influencing their effectiveness and elimination. Understanding **what is drug metabolism?** is crucial for grasping how the body processes and ultimately removes medications, involving a series of enzymatic reactions known as biotransformation.

Approximately 10% of all medicines available globally are classified as prodrugs, a strategy used to optimize drug delivery and efficacy [1.2.2, 1.7.1, 1.7.5]. A key question in this field is, **what are bioprecursor prodrugs** and how do they function?

Approximately 5–7% of the drugs approved worldwide can be classified as prodrugs, highlighting this strategy's established role in medicine. So, what is a pro drug? It is an inactive compound designed to undergo a chemical conversion inside the body to become a pharmacologically active drug.

Approximately 10% of all medicines marketed globally are classified as prodrugs, which are inactive compounds that the body converts into an active drug [1.7.1, 1.7.2]. But **what is a prodrug** and why is this strategy so vital in modern pharmacology?

The cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, found predominantly in the liver, are responsible for metabolizing 70-80% of all drugs in clinical use [1.4.1]. So, which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism? The definitive answer is the liver, which serves as the body's chief metabolic hub [1.2.1].