生物胺泛指所有生源胺类物质，重要的例子有组胺、酪胺、血清素、儿茶酚胺和色胺。生物胺有内源生物胺和外源生物胺之分。

• The Biogenic Amines - Neuroscience 2nd edition, Dale Purves et al.

A biogenic amine is a biogenic substance with one or more amine groups. They are basic nitrogenous compounds formed mainly by decarboxylation of amino acids or by amination and transamination of aldehydes and ketones. Biogenic amines are organic bases with low molecular weight and are synthesized by microbial, vegetable and animal metabolisms. In food and beverages they are formed by the enzymes of raw material or are generated by microbial decarboxylation of amino acids.