[Reactive metabolites of xenobiotics : their role in the hepatotoxicity of drugs]

Abstract

Certain drugs are transformed into reactive metabolites by cytochrome P-450, a hepatic microsomal enzyme. The reactive metabolites covalently bind to hepatocyte macromolecules, thus determining liver lesions. Induction of microsomial enzymes increases the formation of reactive metabolites and exaggerates hepatotoxicity of these drugs.