CYTOCHROME OXIDASE ENZYME- ITS ROLE IN DRUG METABOLISM- REVIEW

Amol S. Dighe*, Chaitali A. Dighe and Sagar D. Magar

ABSTRACT

Oxidation is probably the most common reaction in xenobiotic metabolism. This reaction is catalyzed by a group of membrane bound monooxygenases found in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum of the liver and other extra hepatic tissues, called the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase enzyme system.CYP450 functions as a multicomponent electron transport system responsible for the oxidative metabolism of variety of endogenous substrate such as the steroids, fatty acids, prostaglandins, and bile acids, exogenous substances including drugs, carcinogens, insecticides, plant toxins, environmental pollutants, and other foreign chemicals. The Enzyme systems carring out this biotransformation are referred to as mixed-function oxidase or monooxygenase. The versatility of Cytochrome P-450 in carrying out a variety of oxidation reaction on a multiple forms of the Enzyme. The reaction requires both molecular oxygen and the reducing agents NADPH. The Mixed function oxidase system is actually made up of several; components, the most important being the super family of Cytochrome P-450 enzymes. The Presence of this enzyme in many other tissues has drug- Oxidizing capability too.

Keywords: CYP450, P450.