The term "active principle" refers to the biologically active component of a substance. It is pronounced as /ˈæktɪv ˈprɪnsəpl/, with stress on the first syllable of both words. The first word "active" is spelled with the letter "c" instead of "k" since it is derived from the Latin word "activus." The second word "principle" is spelled with "princ-" instead of "print-" to reflect its etymology from the Latin word "principium." Together, the two words accurately describe a crucial component of pharmacological and chemical compounds.
The term "active principle" refers to the primary or essential component of a substance or compound that is responsible for its biological or pharmacological activity. It represents the constituent that possesses the therapeutic or physiological effect in a specific substance, plant, drug, or natural product. The active principle can be a single chemical compound or a group of closely related compounds that work together to produce the desired effect.
In the field of medicine, active principles are crucial in understanding the mode of action and therapeutic properties of drugs. Identifying the active principle is often important in drug development, as it allows researchers to isolate and purify the key component responsible for the desired effect, leading to the development of more effective and targeted therapies.
Active principles can also be found in natural products such as plants and herbs used in traditional medicine. Extracts from these sources are often studied to determine the active principle responsible for their medicinal properties. Once identified, the active principle can be further studied and potentially utilized in the development of new drugs or therapeutic interventions.
Ultimately, the active principle represents the core element within a substance or compound that produces the intended effect and holds significance in various scientific and medical contexts.
A constituent of a drug, usually an alkaloid or glucoside, upon the presence of which the characteristic therapeutic action of the substance largely depends.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "active principle" is derived from two separate etymological origins:
1. Active: The word "active" comes from the Latin word "activus", which is derived from the verb "agere", meaning "to do" or "to act". This Latin root ultimately traces back to the Proto-Indo-European word "h₂éǵeti", which translates to "to drive" or "to lead".
2. Principle: The word "principle" comes from the Latin word "principium", meaning "beginning" or "foundation". This term is derived from "princeps", which combines "primus" (meaning "first") and "ceps" (meaning "taking" or "holding"). In essence, "princeps" refers to the "first taker" or "leader".