Xenobiotic metabolism

Xenobiotic metabolism is the process by which the body transforms foreign substances, like drugs or pollutants, into forms that can be safely eliminated. The liver primarily carries out this process through a series of chemical reactions, often involving enzymes, that make these substances more water-soluble. This modification generally occurs in two phases: the first adds or exposes functional groups to prepare the molecule, and the second completes the process by producing water-soluble compounds. These transformed substances are then excreted through urine or bile, helping the body clear potentially harmful foreign chemicals efficiently.