Fungi: An Ideal Biotransformation Model for Mimicking Mammalian Drug Metabolism

The concept of microbial model of mammalian metabolism was introduced for the first time by Smith and Rosazza in 1970. Since then different experiments have been performed to illustrate mammalian metabolism using microbes. The assumption is based on the fact that fungi are eukaryotes and have functionally similar enzyme system as that of mammals. This assumption was experimentally proved by studying the enzyme systems of both fungi and mammals belonging to Phase I and II (P450). The aim of this study was to review the work conducted over 40 years to show the similarity between microbial system and mammalian system.