Lipid-soluble drugs microsomal oxidative reactions

CYP450s include steroid hormones and lipid-soluble drugs (Brown, 2001). Oxidative reactions frequently lead to the formation of highly reactive epoxides. These toxic metabolites are usually detoxified rapidly by phase II conjugation or other mechanisms, such as microsomal epoxide hydrolases (Pineiro-Carrero and Pineiro, 2004 Watkins, 1999). 

Microsomal oxidative reactions constitute the most prominent phase I biotransformation pathway for a wide variety of structurally unrelated drugs (Table 1.4). Some drugs (e.g. amphetamine, diazepam, propranolol, lignocaine) simultaneously undergo more than one type of microsomal-mediated oxidative reaction. Microsomal enzymes are located primarily in liver cells, where they are associated with the smooth-surface (without ribosomes) endoplasmic reticulum (Fouts, 1961). Lipid solubility is a prerequisite for drug access to the... 

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