Question

Which among the following is not the process of drug degradation:

• A. Photolysis
• B. Decarboxylation
• C. Hemolysis
• D. Hydrolysis

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The correct option is (C): Hemolysis.

Answer 2

Drug degradation refers to the chemical breakdown pathways by which an active pharmaceutical ingredient loses potency or forms impurities during storage. Each listed process can be checked against this definition:

1. Photolysis: This is the breakdown of a drug molecule caused by exposure to light energy, commonly seen with light-sensitive drugs like nifedipine or riboflavin. It is a well-recognised route of drug degradation.
2. Decarboxylation: This involves the loss of a carboxyl group as carbon dioxide from a drug molecule, a genuine chemical degradation pathway seen in drugs such as para-aminosalicylic acid.
3. Hemolysis: This refers to the rupture of red blood cells and release of haemoglobin into the surrounding fluid, a biological/physiological event happening to blood cells, not a chemical breakdown of a drug molecule. It has no place among drug degradation mechanisms.
4. Hydrolysis: This is the reaction of a drug with water, commonly affecting esters and amides such as aspirin, and is one of the most common drug degradation pathways.

Photolysis, decarboxylation and hydrolysis are all genuine chemical routes by which a drug substance can degrade, while hemolysis describes something happening to red blood cells rather than to the drug molecule itself.

Therefore, the correct answer is Hemolysis.