N-Oxidation of Drugs: Biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology

The extensive use of nitrogen-containing compounds as pharmaceuticals and chemical intermediates can lead to exposure to a large number of these agents under widely varying conditions. Before elimination the xenobiotics usually undergo biotransformation. Oxidative attack at nitrogen centres can affect detoxification, but equally well can induce formation of cytotoxic metabolites. The substantial progress, in recent years, in our understanding of the biochemistry and toxicology of N-oxidation of nitrogenous structures has created a need for a synthesis of current knowledge. This book aims to provide a wide-ranging review of the state-of-the-art in nitrogen xenobiochemistry divided into four parts: analysis of N-oxidized products; enzymology of N-oxidation; reductions and conjugations of N-oxygenated compounds; and bioactivation of nitrogenous compounds and cell toxity. It is designed to provide the reader with an understanding of the processes associated with exposure to nitrogenous compounds. Written by an international team of experts, this volume is aimed at graduates and research workers in the biochemical, biopharmaceutical and toxicological fields, as well as professionals in the drug, cosmetics, food, chemical and agricultural industries.