Canadian Medical Guide > Biological Sciences > Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition > Metabolism > Pharmacokinetics > Biotransformation Terms and Definitions

Biotransformation

Medical Definition:	The chemical alteration of an exogenous substance by or in a biological system. The alteration may inactivate the compound or it may result in the production of an active metabolite of an inactive parent compound. The alteration may be either non-synthetic (OXIDATION-REDUCTION; HYDROLYSIS) or synthetic (glucuronide formation, sulfate conjugation, ACETYLATION; METHYLATION). This also includes metabolic detoxication and clearance.
Guide Notes:	restrict to chem changes of exogenous substances; IM general only; NIM with specific drug /pharmacokin (IM); or /metab (for microorganisms); do not confuse with BIODEGRADATION: reduction of "pollutant chemicals
Also Called:	Activation, Metabolic

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