Kalmar "autacoid" tana nufin wani abu ne da kwayoyin halitta ke samarwa a cikin jiki kuma yana da tasiri na gida akan kwayoyin halitta ko kyallen takarda da suka samar da shi. Autacoids sun haɗa da abubuwa irin su histamine, prostaglandins, da leukotrienes, waɗanda ke da hannu a cikin matakai daban-daban na ilimin lissafi, ciki har da kumburi, amsawar rigakafi, da zafi. Kalmar "autacoid" ta samo asali ne daga kalmomin Helenanci "autos," ma'ana "kai," da "akos," ma'ana "maganin."