What Role Do Covalent Bonds Play in Drug Metabolism?
Covalent bonds are integral to the process of drug metabolism, which is the body's way of transforming and eliminating xenobiotics, including drugs and toxins. During metabolism, enzymes such as cytochrome P450 can form or break covalent bonds, converting lipophilic compounds into more hydrophilic metabolites for excretion. However, this process can sometimes result in the formation of reactive intermediates that form covalent bonds with cellular macromolecules, potentially leading to toxic effects.
