Drug metabolizing enzymes are proteins that catalyze the metabolism of pharmaceuticals and other xenobiotics. These enzymes are categorized into two main phases: Phase I and Phase II. Phase I enzymes introduce reactive or polar groups into their substrates, often through oxidation, reduction, or hydrolysis. Phase II enzymes, on the other hand, facilitate conjugation reactions, which typically involve the addition of endogenous substrates to make the molecules more water-soluble.
