Definitions

Heavy metal toxicity has proven to be a major threat and there are several health risks associated with it. The toxic effects of these metals, even though they do not have any biological role, remain present in some or the other form harmful for the human body and its proper functioning. The diseases associated with heavy metal range from pulmonary lung illnesses to various cancers. They sometimes act as a pseudo element of the body while at certain times they may even interfere with metabolic processes. This can lead to various disorders and can also result in excessive damage due to oxidative stress induced by free radical formation.

This is the first line of defense against toxins and uses a group of enzymes known as the cytochrome P450 family.  Phase I is about the oxidation of harmful toxins in order to break them down into less harmful metabolites.

Phase II is about conjugation, which uses 6 different pathways (glucuronidation, acetylation, esterification, amino acid conjugation, sulfation and glutathione) to take water soluble Phase 1 metabolites out of the body through bile, urine, and stool.