Over the years, the attempts to elucidate the role of beneficial microorganisms in shaping human health are becoming fairly apparent. The functional impact conferred by such microbes is not only transmitted by viable cells or their metabolites but also through non-viable cells. Extensive research to unveil the protective action of such wonder bugs has resulted in categorizing the beneficial microflora and their bioactive metabolites into a variety of functional biotic concepts based on their intended applications in various forms. In the modern era, these are often termed as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, next-generation probiotics, psychobiotics, oncobiotics, pharmabiotics, and metabiotics. Currently, the concept of traditional probiotics is being widened to include microbes beyond lactic acid bacteria. Indeed, this diversification has broadened the functional food portfolio from food to pharmaceuticals. In this context, the present review aims to summarize the existing biotic concepts and their differences thereof.

多年来，阐明有益微生物在塑造人类健康中的作用的尝试变得相当明显。此类微生物所赋予的功能影响不仅通过活细胞或其代谢物传播，而且还通过非活细胞传播。为了揭示这种神奇细菌的保护作用，进行了大量研究，根据其各种形式的预期应用，将有益微生物群及其生物活性代谢物分类为各种功能性生物概念。在现代，这些通常被称为益生菌、益生元、合生元、后生元、下一代益生菌、精神生元、抗癌生元、药物生元和代谢生元。目前，传统益生菌的概念正在扩大到包括乳酸菌以外的微生物。事实上，这种多元化已经将功能性食品组合从食品扩大到药品。在此背景下，本综述旨在总结现有的生物概念及其差异。