Benzene may be oxidised to mono-, di-, and tri-hydroxy phenols as shown below. If the aromatic hydrocarbon contains alkyl group, it is oxidised to acid.

Aliphatic and aromatic alcohols undergo oxidation to form the corresponding acids. Methanol is a highly toxic substance that when it is consumed, it produces blindness.

A large number of foreign compounds, which include alcohols, aldehydes, amines, aromatic hydrocarbons, and sulphur compounds, are detoxified by the process by oxidation. In general, aliphatic compounds are more easily oxidised than aromatic.

The reaction of phase II is conjugation. Generally, detoxification of a compound involves phase I as well as phase II reactions. It is shown in Figure 12.1. Figure 12.1 Detoxification of a Compound

The reactions of phase I are oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis.

MECHANISM OF DETOXIFICATION The metabolism of xenobiotics may be divided into two phases: Phase II Phase I