Abstract
Microbial Cultures As Models To Predict Drug Metabolism : Studies With Phenytoin
It is known that microbial model systems can be employed as good predictors of mammalian drug metabolism. Metabolites of phenytoin, a model drug for aromatic hydroxylation were isolated and characterized using HPLC and TLC after pre-incubation with some microbial cultures. Among different organisms screened, pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris were found to metabolize phenytoin. Both produced a phydroxylated derivative of phenytoin which was the main metabolite observed in rabbits. Pseudomonas aeruginosa also produced one unknown metabolite of phenytoin which was not observed in mammalian systems. These two organisms could be used as microbial models of metabolism of other drugs whose metabolism is expected to be similar to that of phenytoin.
