HealthAugust 8, 2026

bioactive

BY-oh-AK-tiv

Definition

Having a biological effect or influence on living tissue or organisms.

Etymology

The term is a compound formed from the Greek 'bios' (life) and the Latin 'activus' (active/doing). It entered the scientific lexicon to describe substances that produce a specific physiological response in living organisms.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe compounds in food that interact with human cells to alter gene expression and protein levels. It highlights how diet-derived bioactive molecules can trigger rapid systemic changes.

Short-Term Animal-Product Restriction Rapidly Alters Human Proteogenomic Profiles

Read the full article ↗

Bioengineer.org

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