In
pharmacology,
biological activity or
pharmacological activity describes the beneficial or adverse effects of a
drug on
living matter. When a drug is a complex chemical mixture, this activity is exerted by the substance's
active ingredient or
pharmacophore but can be modified by the other constituents. Among the various properties of chemical compounds, pharmacological/biological activity plays a crucial role since it suggests uses of the compounds in the medical applications. However, chemical compounds may show some adverse and toxic effects which may prevent their use in medical practice.
