Metabolic transformation is generally divided into two phases:
Phase I Reactions: These involve the introduction or exposure of a functional group on the compound. The most common reactions are oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis, primarily catalyzed by cytochrome P450 enzymes. Phase II Reactions: These involve conjugation, where the substance is linked with another compound to increase its solubility. Common conjugation reactions include glucuronidation, sulfation, and acetylation.
