Enhancing the Properties of Natural Products and Other Drugs: Deuterium: A Novel Approach

Deuterium substitution is a new approach used to enhance the metabolic profile of a drug. The carbon-deuterium bond seems to be stronger than a usual carbon-hydrogen bond. It leads to improved biological half-life and prolonged action of the drug. The deuterated drugs also show improved pharmacokinetics of the drug and reduce the dosing frequency. This paves the way for drugs from natural sources with good therapeutic effects but poor pharmacokinetic profiles, which can be deuterated for improved properties. Though this seems to be an alternate pathway, the isotope exchange with hydrogen has to be studied well for toxicity and the safety profile of the drug should be evaluated. The present review provides an outline of the deuterium approach in natural products and other drugs which are opted for deuterium to improve the metabolic profile.