Metabolites of pharmaceutical compounds are pivotal to comprehending drug metabolism, potential drug interactions, and human drug metabolizing enzymes. Primary metabolites are synthesized by the cell because they are critical for biological growth like alcohols and vitamins. Secondary metabolites are the compounds produced by an organism. They are not essential for primary metabolic processes, although they can have important ecologic and other functions such as pesticides and drugs.

Metabolites synthesis is vital to advances in science and medicine today when investigators look for a deeper understanding of the chemical processes of cells or drug metabolism and apply those insights to new approaches to identifying diseases and discovering new treatments.