metabolizes

Metabolizes is the present-tense form of the verb referring to the process by which a substance undergoes metabolism. In biology, metabolism encompasses the chemical reactions that sustain life, including the biotransformation of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. When a substance is metabolized, it is transformed by enzymes into products that are typically more suitable for elimination from the body.

Most metabolic activity occurs in the liver, but other tissues contribute as well. Metabolism generally aims to increase a compound’s polarity and water solubility to facilitate excretion. The process is commonly described in two phases. Phase I reactions introduce or expose functional groups through oxidation, reduction, or hydrolysis, often mediated by enzymes such as the cytochrome P450 family. Phase II reactions conjugate these groups with glucuronic acid, sulfate, glutathione, or other molecules, further increasing hydrophilicity.

Metabolism has important implications in pharmacology and toxicology. It can inactivate drugs, activate prodrugs, or generate reactive intermediates that affect safety. Individual variation in metabolism arises from genetic differences in enzymes (for example, CYP2D6, CYP2C9 polymorphisms), age, liver function, diet, and interactions with other drugs that induce or inhibit metabolic pathways. Environmental exposures and disease states can also alter metabolic capacity.

Metabolized substances are typically excreted in urine or bile after biotransformation. The study of metabolism, including how substances are metabolized and how this influences their biological effects, is central to fields such as pharmacology, toxicology, and physiology.