Xenobiotic
Xenobiotic
Xenobiotic (/ˌzɛnoʊbaɪˈɒtɪk/, from the Greek words ξένος (xenos) = foreigner and βίος (bios) = life) is a term used in medicine and pharmacology to describe any foreign substance that is not naturally produced by an organism. This can include synthetic drugs, environmental pollutants, and even substances produced by other organisms.
Etymology
The term "xenobiotic" is derived from the Greek words "xenos" meaning "stranger" or "foreigner", and "bios" meaning "life". It was first used in the medical field in the 1960s to describe substances that are foreign to a living organism or system.
Related Terms
- Pharmacokinetics: The study of how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body.
- Metabolism: The process by which the body breaks down and converts substances into energy or waste products.
- Detoxification: The process of removing toxic substances from the body.
- Biotransformation: The chemical modification of substances by living organisms or enzymes.
- Xenobiotic metabolism: The set of metabolic pathways that modify the chemical structure of xenobiotics, which are often toxic and foreign to the organism's normal biochemistry.
Pronunciation
Xenobiotic is pronounced as /ˌzɛnoʊbaɪˈɒtɪk/.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Xenobiotic
- Wikipedia's article - Xenobiotic
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