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By
Dr. Faraza Javaid
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METABOLISM
Drug metabolism (biotransformation)
It is the chemical reactions which lead to the
modification of drugs
Sites of metabolism
Hepatic: microsomes, mitochondria,
cytoplasm
Extrahepatic: lung, blood, skin, GIT, kidney
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Metabolism may result:
 Inactivation of active drug, e.g. Lidocaine
 Active metabolite from active drug
e.g. Codeine to Morphine
 Activation of inactive drug (prodrug)
e.g. Levodopa to Dopamine
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Why metabolismof drugs is required
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Importance of Metabolism
Makes drug less lipid soluble or H2O soluble
 easy excretion of drugs
Alternative process  termination of
biological activity
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Drug Metabolizing Enzymes
1) Microsomal Enzymes
Major role in metabolism
Located in membrane of ER (liver, GIT,
lungs, kidney)
Collectively called as Cytochrome P450,
Monoxygenase, Glucouronyl Transferase
Cyt families (1,2,3….) & sub families
(A,B,C,D…..)
CYP: 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C9, 2C18, 2C19 etc
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Cytochrome P-450
Root
word
Family Sub-family
Genenumber
450 denotes their strong absorbance at 450 nm
Superfamily of microsomes
CYP3A4 is involved in metabolism of 50% drugs
Nomenclature
CYP3A4
Non-Microsomal Enzyme
Present in cytoplasm and mitochondria of liver
cells
Flavoprotein oxidase, Esterase, Amidases
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Non Microsomal Metabolism
Mitochondria:
Mono-amine oxidase enzyme (MAO), Flavoprotein
oxidase
Cytoplasm:
Alcohol dehydrogenase
Blood (plasma):
Estrases, Amidases
Catechol-o methyltransferases(COMT)
Intestinal Mucosa and Lumen:
Glucouronidase, Asoreductases
GIT mucosa:
Monoamime oxidase (MAO), Sulphatase
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Drug metabolizing by microsomal enzyme is called as
substrate and chemical increasing or decreasing that
enzyme is called as inducer or inhibitor respectively
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Enzyme
inducer
Increase
metabolism
Decrease
effect
Dose should be
increased
T
olerance
Enzyme
Inhibitors
Decrease
Metabolism
Predisposes
toxicity
Phases of Metabolism
1) Phase-I
2) Phase-II
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1) Phase-I reactions
Makes drugs more water soluble and less lipid
soluble; catalyzed by microsomal enzymes
Metabolite may be active or inactive by
introducing or unmasking a functional
group (OH, NH2, SH)
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Reactions
Oxidation
Addition of O/-vely charged radical or removal
of H/+vely charged radical
Enzymes: Monooxygenases and Cyt P450
e.g. Barbiturates, Ibuprofen, PCM
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Hydroxylation
Addition of OH group e.g., Phenobarbitone,
Warfarine, Chloramphenicol
De-amination
Removal of amino group
e.g. Amphetamine, diazepam
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Hydrolysis
Addition of H2O molecule
e.g., Aspirin, procaine
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Phase-II reactions
Addition of an endogenous water-soluble group
(glucoUronic acid, acetic acid sulfuric acid) to parent drug or its
oxidized metabolite
Metabolite is mostly inactive, Conjugation of a drug or
Phase 1 metabolite with an endogenous substrate.
 Synthetic in nature
 Nearly all conjugates are inert & H2O soluble
 Phase-II-terminate biologic activity
 Conjugates pass in urine or bile
 Enzyme: transferases
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Types of Phase-II Reactions
i) Glucouronide conjugation
Drugs + glucoronic acid (glucose)
Enzyme: glucoronyl transferase
e.g., chloramphenicol, aspirin, morphine,
metronidazole, digoxin
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ii) Acetylation
Drug or metabolite + acetyl group (acetyl Co A)
Enzyme: acetyl transferase
e.g., sulphonamides, isoniazid, clonazepam etc
iii) Glycine conjugation
Drug or metabolite + glycine
Enzyme: Glycine transferase
e.g., salicylic acid, benzoic acid, nicotinic acid,
cinnamic acid, cholic acid etc
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iv) Sulphate conjugation
Drug + sulphate group
Enzyme: sulphotransferase
e.g., methyldopa, paracetamol, estrone etc.
v) Methylation
Drug or metabolite + methyl group
Enzyme: transmethylase
e.g., DA, Ad, Hist, pyridine, thiouracil
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Kinetics of Metabolism
Activity of enzymes to work… or metabolism
1. 1st order Kinetics
2. Zero order Kinetics
Relation b/w Plasma Drug Concentration
and Rate of Drug Metabolism
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1st Order Kinetics
If we Increase the Plasma Drug Concentration,
the Rate of Drug Metabolism Increases.
OR
The rate of drug metabolism is proportional to
drug concentration
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V = Rate of Drug Metabolism = Vmax [C]
Km
2nd Order Kinetics (Max capacity)
If we Increase the Plasma Drug Concentration, the Rate
of Drug Metabolism remains constant.
OR
The rate of drug metabolism becomes independent to
drug concentration
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V = Rate of Drug Metabolism = Vmax [C] = Vmax
[C]
Half life (t1/2)
 Time required to reduce the plasma conc. half to its
original value
 It is a secondary P’kinetic parameter derived from two
primary P’kinetic parameter
 Vd and clearance (Cl)
 Determines dosing interval and time required to reach
steady state conc.
t1/2 = (0.693 * Vd)/Cl
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Factors which can affect the
metabolism…
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1) Genetic factors
 Or   activity of metabolizing enzyme
a) Succinylcholine
Metabolized by pseudocholinestrase
Metabolism of succinylcholine - d/c in individuals
Toxic effect occur at therapeutic doses + prolonged
paralysis of skeletal muscles occur
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b) Isoniazid
Deficiency of acetyl transferases in some
individuals (slow acetylators)
Acetylation of isoniazid is slow
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2) Food
Charcoal broiled meat, cruciferous vegetable =
activity of CYP1A enzyme
Grapefruit juice=inhibit CYP3A
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3) Environment
Industrial workers exposed = pesticides
Rapid metabolism of some drugs
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4) Age
Drugs = greater + prolonged effects at age
extremes b/c of slower metabolism
Reduced activity of enzyme or reduced
availability of endogenous cofactor = slower
metabolism
Newborn=weak system for biotransformation
Premature infants cannot metabolize drugs
Elderly people =  metabolism
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6) Drugs
Many drugs affect rate of metabolism of others
or their own due to enzyme induction of
inhibition
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Enzyme Inducers
Enzyme inducer
G Griseofulvin
P Phenytoin
R Rifampicin
S Smoking
Cell Carbamazepine
Phone Phenobarbitone
Enzyme Inhibitors
Enzyme inhibitors
Vitamin Valproate
K Ketoconazole
Cannot Cimetidine
Cause Ciprofloxacin
Enzyme Erythromycin
Inhibition Isoniazid
7) Disease
Many diseases affect drug metabolism due to:
Malnourishment or hepatic dysfunction
Acute or chronic disease affecting liver architecture or
function=affect metabolism of drugs
E.g., alcoholic hepatitis, active or inactive alcoholic
cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, chronic active
hepatitis, biliary cirrhosis & active viral or drug
induced hepatitis
These conditions  microsomal oxidases
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Drug Metabolism.pptx