User:Mmahmed1/Chemical transformation of xenobiotics by the human gut microbiota

Lead
In the human body, the ability of microbial community residing the gastrointestinal tract (i.e. gut microbiome) to metabolize xenobiotics are well known. Gut microbiome has shown to metabolize the oral administered drugs via direct and indirect mechanisms affecting the host response to the ingested drugs. In some cases, the enzymatic machinery of the gut microbiome can inactivate the drug as with digoxin (oral drug used to treat congestive heart failure). Additionally, the effect of these community may activate the prodrug producing an active form of the drug as presented with lovastatin. The effect of the gut microbiome could be also a problematic when the bacterial β-glucosidases work to regenerate the active irinotecan active drug after its conjugation.

Article body
Mechanisms of gut microbiome induced drug metabolism

Interactions of gut microbiome with human drug metabolism and their consequences