active pharmaceutical ingredient
Formal Definition
chemical or biological component that is included in the formulation of a health care product to achieve the intended purpose
Explanation
any substance or combination of substances used in a finished pharmaceutical product, intended to furnish pharmacological activity or to otherwise have direct effect in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease, or to have direct effect in restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions in human beings.
- Abbreviation(s): API
- Synonym(s): active ingredient active substance
- Categories: Medicines