Theobromine

About: Theobromine is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1137 publications have been published within this topic receiving 29723 citations. The topic is also known as: 3,7-Dimethylxanthine & Theobromin.

Effect of acute administration of hydroalcohol extract of Ilex paraguariensis St Hilaire (Aquifoliaceae) in animal models of Parkinson's disease

Abstract: Ilex paraguariensis St Hilaire (Aquifoliaceae) is a plant widely cultivated in South America and with various reputed medicinal properties that can be attributed to phenolic constituents of the leaves: caffeine, theophylline and theobromine, besides the flavonoids, quercetin and rutin. This study examined the antiparkinsonian activity of the hydroalcohol extract of Ilex paraguariensis in models of protection against cerebral injury induced by MPTP and reversal of the catatonia induced by reserpine in mice. The hydroalcohol extract prevented MPTP-induced hypolocomotion at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg at the all time points observed and also prevented the reserpine-induced catalepsy at the same doses. The extract potentiated the effect of apomorphine in preventing catatonia, suggesting a non-dopaminergic activity, probably through antagonism of adenosine. In biochemical studies the hydroalcohol extract caused a significant decrease in the NO levels, exhibited a DPPH-scavenging ability and was effective in preventing the oxidation of deoxyribose. The results obtained suggest that the hydroalcohol extract of Ilex paraguariensis may have an antiparkinsonian profile in animal models, probably through its antioxidant activity and antagonist action on adenosine A2A receptors. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

High performance liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric identification of dimethylxanthine metabolites of caffeine in human plasma

Abstract: High performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to isolate and identify theophylline, theobromine and 1,7-dimethylxanthine (paraxanthine) in plasma of human volunteers following administration of 300 mg caffeine to methylxanthine-free volunteers. Plasma from these subjects was extracted and the dimethylxanthines were separated from each other and caffeine by high performance liquid chromatography. The effluents at the chromatographic peaks corresponding to the dimethylxanthine metabolites were collected, rechromatographed in a second system and the dried residues were subjected to mass spectrometry. By comparison of their retention times and mass spectra with those of authentic compounds, theophylline, theobromine and paraxanthine were positively identified as metabolic products of caffeine.

Effect of naturally occurring xanthines on bacteria. i. antimicrobial action and potentiating effect on antibiotic spectra.

Abstract: The effect of xanthines on various microorganisms was studied. The antibacterial effect was not high; most of the test organisms could easily withstand a concentration of 2,500 mug/ml. Caffeine was more antibacterial than theophylline, and the latter more than theobromine. Caffeine citrate exhibited greater inhibitory effect than did pure caffeine. The effect was both bacteriostatic and bactericidal against susceptible organisms. The susceptibility of organisms to xanthines differed greatly even in related species. The morphology of Aerobacter aerogenes and A. cloacae was affected under the influence of caffeine; filamentation of cells followed sublethal doses. Potentiation was seen with antibiotics and caffeine; resistant strains were killed with a lower dose of drug in the presence of caffeine. This potentiating effect was pronounced with the tetracyclines; with streptomycin, the effect was the contrary.