Question

Identify which categories of drugs are most selectively toxic, and why?

A) Antipyretics, as they target specific fever-inducing agents.
B) Antibiotics, as they specifically target bacterial cells.
C) Analgesics, as they selectively act on pain receptors.
D) Antihypertensives, as they specifically target high blood pressure.

Answer 1

Antibiotics are the most selectively toxic category of drugs because they target the unique features of bacterial cells, which are prokaryotic, unlike the eukaryotic cells of the host.

Step-by-step explanation:

The categories of drugs that are most selectively toxic are antibiotics, as they specifically target bacterial cells. Selective toxicity is crucial because it ensures that the drug kills or inhibits the growth of the microbial targets while causing minimal or no harm to the host.

Antibiotics are more selectively toxic because bacteria, being prokaryotic, offer a variety of unique biological targets that differ from human cells, facilitating the development of drugs that can discriminate between the two.

In contrast, drugs targeting eukaryotic cells, like fungi, protozoa, and helminths, or those targeting viruses, which replicate within human host cells, face greater challenges in achieving selective toxicity.