The biotransformation of 13α,17-dihydroxystemodane (3) with the fungus Cephalosporium aphidicola afforded 13α,17,18-trihydroxystemodane (4), 3β,13α,17-tri-hydroxystemodane (5), 13α,17-dihydroxy-stemodan-18-oic acid (6), 3β,11β,13α,17-tetra-hydroxystemodane (7), 11β,13α,17,18-tetrahydroxystemodane (8) and 3β,13α,17,18-tetra-hydroxystemodane (9). The hydroxylation at C-18 of the substrate points ...

The nitroaromatic explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and the related 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) are toxic environmental pollutants. The biotransformation and detoxication of these persistent compounds in higher organisms are of great significance from a health perspective as well as for the biotechnological challenge of bioremediation of contaminated soil. We demonstrate that different human g...

A variety of mechanisms is available to counter any invasion of the body by drugs or other foreign substances. These include delivery to body tissues such as adipose tissue which defers the degradation process; biotransformation mediated by enzymes located primarily, but not exclusively, in liver microsomes; and excretion via the kidneys, lungs, biliary tract, secretory glands and organs. It is...

Although methotrexate is widely used in clinical practice there remains significant lack of understanding of its mechanisms of action and the factors that contribute to the variability in toxicity and response seen clinically. In addition to differences in drug administration, factors that affect pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics such as genetic variation may explain individual differences ...