Active Ingredient活性成分
An active ingredient is the substance in a pharmaceutical, biologic, or other product that is responsible for producing the intended therapeutic or physiological effect. In translation work, the term appears in drug labels, summary of product characteristics, analytical documents, and regulatory submissions where accurate identification of the molecule is critical for safety and efficacy assessment, as well as for consistency across documents.
Angel Translation editorial reference · Confirm the rendering against your source and approved project terminology.
Check source meaning → confirm the preferred term → record approved variants and references.
Where this term appears
In localization, active ingredient appears in summary of product characteristics, patient information leaflets, labeling, certificates of analysis, clinical trial documents, and packaging artwork. Translators must match common names to official pharmacopeial names and keep terminology consistent across both regulatory submissions and patient-facing materials. It may also occur in pharmacovigilance reports and product quality reviews.
Translation checks
A frequent mistake is translating an active ingredient's common name literally instead of using the established pharmacopeial or international nonproprietary name. Inconsistent naming across summary documents, labels, and patient materials can confuse regulators, create safety risks, and trigger queries. This is especially dangerous when multiple salts or derivatives share similar names.
Keep the term aligned across your files
Check intended use, warnings, document versions and approved terminology with the project team. Translation supports documentation; it does not establish product approval or regulatory acceptance.
Provide approved terms and previous translations with the source files. Agree how variants, ambiguous wording and revisions will be reviewed. Terminology maintenance and any termbase handback are confirmed in the project scope. See the 8-step AI + expert workflow.
Related document experience
NIPRO Medical (Hefei)
Chinese → EnglishMedical-device registration files and technical specifications, in volume.
Read the published project →
Walvax Biotechnology
Chinese → EnglishVaccine-production process documentation, SOPs, quality-control standards and microbiology-testing procedures.
Read the published project →Published scope shows related industry experience; it does not confirm that this specific term was used or reviewed in the project.
Working on life science documentation?
Include the source and target languages, file types, intended use, deadline and any approved termbase. Agree handling before sending sensitive files. Acknowledged in 4 hours, quoted in 24.
Prepare an inquiry email →Life Science solutions →File handling →A glossary entry is not an official standard or evidence of regulatory acceptance. Confirm current requirements for your project separately.