Explainers
BioactivityBioactivity & Function
Bioactivity is a measurable effect of a substance on a biological system. Evidence is built in stages — from in vitro assays to animal models and human studies — and because natural compounds are often transformed during absorption and metabolism, laboratory activity cannot be assumed to translate directly into effects in the body.
Key topics
- 01Targets & mechanisms
Identifying protein targets and pathways
- 02Dose–response
Comparing effective and achievable concentrations
- 03Bioavailability
Absorption, metabolic stability and formulation
- 04Gut microbiota
Microbial metabolism of natural compounds
- 05Human study design
Randomized, controlled and blinded designs
- 06Assay interference
Recognizing false positives such as PAINS
This page describes the field in general terms and makes no claims about specific ingredients or products.
References
- Atanasov AG, Zotchev SB, Dirsch VM, et al. Natural products in drug discovery: advances and opportunities. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2021;20:200–216.
- Percie du Sert N, et al. The ARRIVE guidelines 2.0: Updated guidelines for reporting animal research. PLoS Biol 2020;18(7):e3000410.
- CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) Statement.
- Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021;372:n71.