Metabolism of xenobiotics Detoxification: Biochemistry:U.Satyanarayana

The term detoxication or detoxificafion refers
to fhe series of biochemical reactions occurring
in the body to convert the foreign (often toxic)
compounds to non-toxic or less toxic, and more
easily excretable forms.Knowledge of the metabolism ol xenobiotics is essenfial for the understanding of
toxicology, pharmacology and drug addiction.
The bodV possesses the capabilitg to get rid of the foreign subsfonces by conuerting
them into more easily excretoble forms.
Detoxit'ication is not necessarily associated with the conuersion ol toxic into non-toxic
compounds. For instance, methonol is metabolized to a more toxic formaldehyde.
Detoxification primarily occurs in the liuer through one or more of the reactions,
namely oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis and conjugation.
British antilewisite (BAL), o compound deueloped during Second World Wsn uros used
to detoxify certain uror poison.Oxidation
Reduction
Hydrolysis & Conjugation.