Which mechanism is primarily involved in drug metabolism?

The mechanism primarily involved in drug metabolism is the enzymatic conversion of drugs to metabolites. Metabolism refers to the chemical alterations made to the drug by the body's biochemical processes, primarily involving enzymatic reactions. These enzymes, often located in the liver, facilitate various chemical reactions that transform the parent drug into more polar, water-soluble substances, which can then be easily excreted from the body.

This process is crucial because it helps to deactivate the pharmacological activity of drugs, reducing their effects and toxicity, while preparing them for elimination through the kidneys or bile. Metabolites can sometimes retain some activity or even become active forms of the drug, but the primary function of metabolism is to ensure that the drug is processed and cleared from the system effectively.

While transport across cell membranes, binding of drugs to proteins in the bloodstream, and interference with normal cell function are important aspects of drug action and pharmacokinetics, they do not specifically pertain to the metabolic conversion of drugs. These other mechanisms involve how drugs are absorbed, distributed, and interact with cells, rather than how they are chemically altered within the body.