metabolites
n. countablen. the small substances that your body makes when it breaks down food, medicine, or chemicals. They are the results of the chemical processes that keep you alive.
n. the intermediate or end products of metabolism, typically small molecules involved in growth, reproduction, or health. Often used in the plural to refer to the collective chemical markers found in biological samples.
The doctor checked for drug metabolites in the blood test.
Athletes are often tested for specific metabolites that indicate the previous use of banned performance-enhancing substances.
Secondary metabolites in plants, such as alkaloids and tannins, serve as sophisticated defense mechanisms against herbivores and pathogens rather than participating directly in normal growth or development.
Usually appears in the plural form when discussing biological markers or chemical pathways.