Role of Skin Enzymes in Metabolism of Topical Drugs

The document discusses the significant role of skin enzymes in the metabolism of topical drugs, highlighting their ability to convert prodrug compounds into active pharmaceutical ingredients through enzymatic action. The skin acts as a barrier that metabolizes, filters, and detoxifies drugs, impacting their pharmacokinetics and minimizing side effects. Understanding skin enzyme activity is crucial for evaluating the safety and bioequivalence of topical drugs, necessitating models that assess enzyme metabolic activity in both healthy and compromised skin. The review compiles information on skin metabolizing enzymes, their roles, localization, and quantification, and discusses factors affecting enzyme metabolism in drug development. Regulatory efforts are also noted in developing protocols for evaluating transdermal product metabolism.