Phytochemicals with biological activities are called bioactive Compounds. Bioactive compounds could be synthetic which are not phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are from plant sources.

Dear Sanjib Saha,

Phytochemicals with biological activities are called bioactive Compounds. This definition is interesting. But if they are of natural source like phytochemicals or animal derived active compounds. Than they will not be considered as bioactive.

Dear Sanjib Saha,

Phytochemicals with biological activities are called bioactive Compounds. This definition is interesting. But if they are of natural source like phytochemicals or animal derived active compounds. Than they will not be considered as bioactive.

Dear Mubarak Ali Khan,

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. But do you agree with Sanjib Saha that " Bioactive compounds could be synthetic which are not phytochemicals?.

Dear Sir Bilal Abbasi,

Thank you so much.

As a novice in the field of Bioactive compound researches, I can explain very simply. Phyto means the plant, hence, phytochemicals represent the compounds produced by the plants. These compounds functions as protecting agents and can be called as secondary metabolites.

However, bioactive compounds deals with the compounds/chemicals showing some sort of biological activity/pharmacological effects. These not refer the compounds purified from the natural products, whereas, synthesized compounds can also be bioactive compounds if they show biological effects.

NB: Please help me to clear my ideas if there are some experts or if I am wrong with.

Phytochemicals are natural bioactive compounds that contain chemicals found in small amounts in plants[in general] and in certain foods (such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, oils and whole grains); they have actions in the body that can promote good health. But, plants are not the only source of bioactive compounds. These substances are also found in other living organisms and microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and certain groups of animals.

It should be noted that in addition to natural bioactive substances, thus adding an additional source of bioactive molecules. It is a synthetic source.

When reading almost all your answers, its seems that Phytochemichals are compounds found in plant to "protect themselves"; and do not include primary metabolites such as proteins, carbohydrates , lipides I think that these primary metabolites are also phytochemicals!!!!

The answer given by Dr Mubarak Ali Khan and encompasses everything. I totally agree.

Bioactive compounds are chemicals that are capable of modulating metabolic processes resulting in the promotion of better health. Plants are not the sole source of bioactive compounds. These compounds are also found in other living organisms and microorganisms, such as bacteria mushroom and in some groups of animals. Phytochemicals on the other hand side are the chemicals of plant origin.

Please also take a look at this old RG discussion thread.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Whats_the_difference_between_bioactive_compounds_and_phytochemicals

The bioactive compounds may have different origins, in most cases from the plants as they can be of animal or microbial origin.

Interesting contributions by respected colleagues on this discussion

Bioactive compound: A type of chemical found (lycopene, resveratrol, lignin, tannins and indoles) in plants and certain foods have actions in the body that may promote good health. They are being studied in the prevention of cancer, heart disease, and other diseases.

Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them thrive or thwart competitors, predators, or pathogens.

Any compound from any origin having a biological activity can be termed as bioactive.

Alternatively phytochemicals are the compounds from plant and may or may not have a biological activity in purified form.

Yes, both are same if sourced from plants.

Dear Buhara Yucesan,

You means that there is no difference?

Any molecule isolated from plant (Primary or secondary/specialised metabolite) is termed as a phytochemical. However, if that molecule exhibits certain bioactivity viz. antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial etc. can be termed as bioactive molecule.

In simple words, all enzymes are proteins but all proteins are not enzymes. In your case, proteins are phytochemicals and enzymes are bioactive molecules or bioactive phytochemicals.

Thanks to all of you for sharing your knowledge.

Greatly appreciated

Naturally occurring bioactive compounds are ubiquitous in most dietary higher plants available to humans and livestock... Phytochemicals are substances naturally found in plant foods

Phytochemicals are not all bioactive mollecules.

Phytochemicals are simply chemicals produced by plants in order to protect themselves. Bioactive compounds are plant or animal based compounds that have health benefits to the human being, so some bioactive compounds are also phytochemicals depending with their source

Kamal M Alsaad very well-explianed. Greatly appreciated.

Also this RG discussion thread;

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Phytochemicals-vs-Bioactive-compounds

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Phytochemicals-vs-Bioactive-compounds

https://books.google.com.np/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-3DwAnmgyFYC&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=Phytochemicals+and+Bioactive+compounds&ots=daSIBfp2G6&sig=btCmOVAyRU6xSalmQEd2US14Ruc&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Phytochemicals%20and%20Bioactive%20compounds&f=false

Phytochemicals are simply chemicals produced by plants in order to protect themselves. Bioactive compounds are plant or animal based compounds that have health benefits to the human being, so some bioactive compounds are also phytochemicals depending with their source

Phytochemicals are chemicals found (extracted or isolated) from plants (=phyta). Many are bioactive but some are not (or at least not yet found to be!). Bioactive compounds are chemicals that exhibit certain biological activities. They could be isolated/extracted from plants, animals, microorganisms of terrestrial or marine sources, as well as those that are chemically, biologically, enzymatically synthesized/produced

Hi Javed

Phytochemicals are all chemicals produced by plants primary and secondary compounds

Bioactive compounds are compounds that have benefits as antimicrobial, antifungal, etc.