Substances in plants that are responsible for therapeutic effects are referred to as which?

• A. Active components
• B. Isolates
• C. Alkaloids
• D. Flavonoids

Answer: (A)

In pharmacology, the substances in plants that actually produce therapeutic effects are called active components (bioactive constituents). These are the compounds responsible for the plant’s medicinal actions, as opposed to other plant constituents that may be inert or merely provide aroma, color, or texture. Isolates refer to a single compound that has been purified, which is related but not the general term for all therapeutically active substances. Alkaloids are a specific class of nitrogen-containing compounds, and flavonoids are another distinct class of plant chemicals; both can be active, but not every therapeutic plant constituent falls into those categories. Therefore, the best term for substances responsible for therapeutic effects is active components.