It:Theobromine
Introduction
Theobromine is an alkyloid of the methylxanthine family. It is a common stimulant similar in structure to caffine. It is found in the cacoa plant, Theobroma Cacao, in bean form. It is abundant in between 1.5%-3% in cacao while caffine is between 0.2%-0.4% abundant. Counterintuitivly theobromine doesn't contain any bromine, the name of the compound comes from the name of the tree Theobroma Cacao.
Theobromine is also the key ingredient of all chocolate!!!
Effects
Theobromine has the following effects:
-Weak adenosine receptor antagonist
-Phosphosdiesterase inhibitor
-Smooth muscle relaxant
-Diuretic.
Uses
Theobromine is used in all chocolate; dark chocolate (or better quality chocolate) contains a higher proportion of theobromine than milk chocolate (or lower quality choclate). Production of chocolate is the primary use of theobromine, but not the only one.
Theobromine has been used to help those with high blood pressure as it dilates the blood vessels.
It has also been used as a diuretic as it increases urine production in the body. It is especially useful for those who have experianced heart failure, as heart failure can lead to biuld up of bodily fluids.
Chemical Information
| Chemical Data | |
| Names | 3,7-dimethylxanthine,
3,7-Dihydro-3,7-dimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione (IUPAC) |
| Chemical formula | C7H8N4O2 |
| Molecular Mass | 180.16 |
| Properties | |
| Melting Point | 618-623 K |
| Form | Solid |
| Colour | White |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Solubility | H2O: slightly soluble
aqueous base: moderately soluble ethanol: slightly soluble |
| Reference | http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/search/ProductDetail/SIGMA/T4500 |
Structure
Theobromine |
Synthesis
Indian Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, 14(4), 301-306; 2005
References
Pages that I used to research this tiopic:
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/search/ProductDetail/SIGMA/T4500
http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa090301a.htm
http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=155
http://www.greatvistachemicals.com/proteins-sugars-nucleotides/theobromine.html