ADME databases and their relevance MCQs With Answer
ADME databases compile experimental and predicted data on Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion—core pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters vital for drug development and safety assessment. For B.Pharm students, understanding ADME databases (e.g., DrugBank, PubChem, ChEMBL, ADMETlab, pkCSM) helps interpret physicochemical properties, bioavailability, clearance, half‑life, CYP metabolism, transporter interactions, and toxicity predictions. These resources support in silico ADMET screening, QSAR modeling, IVIVE, and decision‑making in formulation and clinical dosing. Mastery of ADME data retrieval, interpretation, and limitations improves drug design, regulatory submissions, and experimental planning. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which database is primarily known for linking detailed drug data with pharmacological information and clinical status?
- PubChem
- DrugBank
- ChEMBL
- UniProt
Correct Answer: DrugBank
Q2. Which ADME parameter is best described by the fraction of an administered dose that reaches systemic circulation unchanged?
- Clearance
- Volume of distribution
- Bioavailability
- Plasma protein binding
Correct Answer: Bioavailability
Q3. Which file format commonly used in ADME databases encodes chemical structures as line notations?
- SDF
- FASTQ
- SMILES
- CSV
Correct Answer: SMILES
Q4. Which experimental assay provides data on passive intestinal permeability often used in ADME databases?
- Microsomal stability assay
- Caco-2 permeability assay
- hERG binding assay
- Rodent LD50 test
Correct Answer: Caco-2 permeability assay
Q5. Which ADME descriptor indicates lipophilicity often correlated with membrane permeability and protein binding?
- pKa
- LogP
- Cmax
- CLint
Correct Answer: LogP
Q6. Which enzyme family is most commonly annotated in ADME databases for drug metabolism and clinically relevant drug–drug interactions?
- UDP‑glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs)
- Cytochrome P450s (CYPs)
- Proteases
- Kinases
Correct Answer: Cytochrome P450s (CYPs)
Q7. Which predicted ADMET tool provides machine‑learning based estimates for clearance, toxicity, and metabolic sites and is integrated in several databases?
- BLAST
- pkCSM
- KEGG
- GROMACS
Correct Answer: pkCSM
Q8. In IVIVE (in vitro–in vivo extrapolation), which in vitro measurement commonly used from databases is scaled to predict human hepatic clearance?
- Caco-2 Papp
- Intrinsic clearance (CLint) in human liver microsomes
- hERG IC50
- Solubility at pH 7.4
Correct Answer: Intrinsic clearance (CLint) in human liver microsomes
Q9. Which transport protein frequently annotated in ADME data influences oral absorption and can mediate drug efflux from enterocytes?
- GLUT4
- P-glycoprotein (P-gp)
- Albumin
- ACE2
Correct Answer: P-glycoprotein (P-gp)
Q10. Which ADME database is particularly useful for bioactivity data from medicinal chemistry and high‑throughput screening campaigns?
- ChEMBL
- ClinVar
- RefSeq
- Ensembl
Correct Answer: ChEMBL
Q11. Which parameter represents the extent of drug binding to plasma proteins and influences free drug concentration?
- Fraction unbound (fu)
- pKa
- LogD at pH 2
- hERG liability
Correct Answer: Fraction unbound (fu)
Q12. Which toxicity endpoint commonly found in ADME/Tox databases assesses potential cardiac arrhythmia risk?
- LD50
- hERG inhibition
- Micronucleus formation
- Skin irritation
Correct Answer: hERG inhibition
Q13. What does the ADMET acronym stand for when used in drug discovery databases?
- Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, Toxicity
- Activity, Dosage, Mutagenicity, Efficacy, Therapeutics
- Administration, Delivery, Mechanism, Elimination, Testing
- Affinity, Drug‑likeness, Metabolism, Evaluation, Toxicity
Correct Answer: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, Toxicity
Q14. Which experimental system gives metabolic stability data reflecting phase I enzyme activity commonly included in ADME datasets?
- Human liver microsomes
- Renal clearance assay
- Intestinal biopsies
- Skeletal muscle homogenates
Correct Answer: Human liver microsomes
Q15. Which database provides detailed metabolite information, reaction pathways, and enzyme annotations useful for metabolism studies?
- PubMed
- KEGG
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- ArXiv
Correct Answer: KEGG
Q16. Which ADME metric describes the hypothetical volume that would be needed to contain the total amount of drug in the body at the same concentration as in plasma?
- Clearance (CL)
- Volume of distribution (Vd)
- Half‑life (t1/2)
- Bioavailability (F)
Correct Answer: Volume of distribution (Vd)
Q17. When querying ADME databases for structure–property relationships, which descriptor is essential for acid–base behavior?
- LogP
- pKa
- MW (molecular weight)
- Polar surface area
Correct Answer: pKa
Q18. Which concept refers to the change in drug concentration over time in plasma and is a direct output used to compare ADME profiles?
- MIC
- Cmax and AUC
- EC50
- Solubility curve
Correct Answer: Cmax and AUC
Q19. For transporter and enzyme substrate annotation, which experimental data type is most valuable in ADME databases?
- In vitro inhibition and substrate turnover assays
- Patient questionnaires
- Genomic sequencing only
- UV absorbance spectra
Correct Answer: In vitro inhibition and substrate turnover assays
Q20. Which ADME property is directly affected by polar surface area (PSA) and influences blood–brain barrier penetration?
- Permeability
- Hepatic clearance
- Renal secretion
- Protein binding in plasma
Correct Answer: Permeability
Q21. Which public repository is useful for chemical structures and basic bioassay data and is often cross‑referenced in ADME resources?
- PubChem
- OMIM
- GEO
- PDB
Correct Answer: PubChem
Q22. When assessing metabolic liability, which in vitro system provides data on whole‑cell metabolism including phase II reactions?
- Human hepatocytes
- Bacterial cultures
- Pure recombinant CYP only
- Plasma protein binding assays
Correct Answer: Human hepatocytes
Q23. Which parameter in ADME databases indicates the time required for plasma concentration to decrease by half and depends on both clearance and volume of distribution?
- Bioavailability
- Half‑life (t1/2)
- Intrinsic clearance
- Permeability coefficient
Correct Answer: Half‑life (t1/2)
Q24. Which computational approach uses database entries to correlate chemical features with ADME outcomes to predict new compounds’ behavior?
- QSAR modeling
- X‑ray crystallography
- Western blotting
- Patch‑clamp recording
Correct Answer: QSAR modeling
Q25. Which database or tool specifically focuses on predicted ADME/Tox endpoints and is widely used for early screening?
- ADMETlab
- GenBank
- ArrayExpress
- PDBsum
Correct Answer: ADMETlab
Q26. Which factor is a common source of variability in ADME database values between studies?
- Different experimental conditions and assay protocols
- Intrinsic chemical identity of water
- Universal standardization across all labs
- Presence of magnetic fields
Correct Answer: Different experimental conditions and assay protocols
Q27. For predicting human drug–drug interactions, which data from ADME databases is most relevant?
- Light absorbance spectra
- CYP inhibition and induction profiles
- Melting point only
- Color of the formulation
Correct Answer: CYP inhibition and induction profiles
Q28. Which ADME descriptor is especially important for oral formulations because it affects dissolution and thus absorption rate?
- Solubility at physiological pH
- pKa at non‑physiological pH 13
- Number of chiral centers
- Crystal habit only
Correct Answer: Solubility at physiological pH
Q29. Which concept describes scaling in vitro metabolic clearance to predict in vivo hepatic clearance using physiological parameters?
- Allometric scaling
- In vitro–in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE)
- Docking score normalization
- Log‑transform regression
Correct Answer: In vitro–in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE)
Q30. When using ADME databases for regulatory submissions, which practice enhances credibility of predictions?
- Relying solely on a single unvalidated prediction
- Combining curated experimental data with validated in silico models
- Ignoring assay metadata and conditions
- Using outdated proprietary formats without documentation
Correct Answer: Combining curated experimental data with validated in silico models

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com

