Tag: Conjugation

The human body is an expert at processing foreign chemical substances, a process known as drug metabolism. Understanding **what are Phase 1 and Phase 2 reactions in drug metabolism pharmacology?** is crucial, as this two-stage process determines how medications are converted into forms that can be easily eliminated, influencing their efficacy and safety. In fact, the liver's cytochrome P450 (CYP450) system alone metabolizes between 70% and 80% of all drugs in clinical use.

Approximately 70-80% of all small-molecule drugs undergo metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes during Phase 1 metabolism, highlighting its central role in preparing compounds for excretion. Understanding the fundamental difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2 metabolism is crucial for grasping how the body processes and eliminates drugs and other foreign substances.

While the liver is the main organ for drug metabolism, studies show that most phase II biotransformation reactions occur in the cytoplasm, or cytosol, of hepatocytes. This metabolic process is fundamental for converting xenobiotics and other compounds into more water-soluble forms, which facilitates their excretion from the body.