Use of LC - MS / MS for xenobiotic metabolism studies in animals

Xenobiotics are defined as foreign compounds which are absorbed either intentionally or accidentally by animals or plants, and which lead to some physiological modifications. Thus, this term concerns a very wide range of chemical compound classes, including e.g. drugs, food additives, environmental contaminants or pesticides, each of which often requires the development of specific analytical strategies. Following their absorption, the biotransformation of xenobiotics is achieved via two principal classes of enzymatic systems (mainly localised in the liver for mammals), leading to the so-called phase I and phase II metabolites [1,2]. Phase I metabolites result from reactions of oxydation, ■ Use of LC-MS/MS for xenobiotic metabolism studies in animals