File:Theobromine.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
theobromine
Sign in to saveAlso known as 3,7-dimethyl-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione, 3,7-dimethylxanthine, theobromin, 3,7-dimethylpurine-2,6-dione, diurobromine, 3,7-dimethyl-xanthine, 2,6-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-purine, 3,7-dihydro-3,7-dimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione
Theobromine, also known as xantheose, is the principal alkaloid of Theobroma cacao (cacao plant). Theobromine is slightly water-soluble (330 mg/L) with a bitter taste. In industry, theobromine is used as an additive and precursor to some cosmetics. It is found in chocolate and several other foods, including tea (Camellia sinensis), some American hollies (yaupon and guayusa) and the kola nut. It is a white or colourless solid, but commercial samples can appear yellowish.
Theobromine is a bitter, naturally occurring alkaloid compound found primarily in cacao plants, and it also appears in chocolate, tea, and some other foods and plants. It's used in industry as an additive and ingredient in cosmetics, and exists as a white or colorless solid in pure form.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Drug.Watchedfields
- changed
- Drug.verifiedrevid
- 622941253
- Drug.IUPAC_name
- 3,7-dimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione
- Drug.image
- Theobromine.svg
- Drug.image_class
- skin-invert-image
- Drug.width
- 135
- Drug.image2
- Theobromine 3D ball.png
- Drug.image_class2
- bg-transparent
- Drug.legal_status
- In general: Unscheduled.
- Drug.dependency_liability
- None
- Drug.routes_of_administration
- Oral
- Drug.metabolism
- Hepatic demethylation and oxidation
- Drug.elimination_half life
- 6–8 hours
- Drug.excretion
- Renal (10% unchanged, rest as metabolites)
- Drug.CAS_number
- 83-67-0
- Drug.ATC_prefix
- C03
- Drug.ATC_suffix
- BD01
- Drug.PubChem
- 5429
via Wikipedia infobox
Chemical data
- Formula
- C7H8N4O2
- Molecular weight
- 180.16 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 3,7-dimethylpurine-2,6-dione
- SMILES
- CN1C=NC2=C1C(=O)NC(=O)N2C
- InChIKey
- YAPQBXQYLJRXSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- XLogP
- -0.8
- Polar surface area
- 67.2 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 3
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Research
6,680 papers- Theobromine for treatment of uric acid stones and other diseases.Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica · 2024
- Theobromine.IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans · 1991
- Theobromine and theophylline.Mutation research · 1975
- Theobromine is associated with slower epigenetic ageing.Aging · 2025
- Theobromine and the pharmacology of cocoa.Handbook of experimental pharmacology · 2011
via PubMed
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 180.065
Show 5 more facts
- chemical formula
- C₇H₈N₄O₂
- melting point
- 348
- canonical SMILES
- CN1C=NC2=C1C(=O)NC(=O)N2C
- Commons category
- Theobromine
- defined daily dose
- 4
Sources (8)
via Wikidata · CC0
~7 min read
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Structure
- History
- Etymology
- Sources
- Biosynthesis
- Pharmacology
- Effects
- Humans
- Toxicity
- Animals
- See also
- References
Theobromine, also known as xantheose, is the principal alkaloid of Theobroma cacao (cacao plant). Theobromine is slightly water-soluble (330 mg/L) with a bitter taste. In industry, theobromine is used as an additive and precursor to some cosmetics. It is found in chocolate and several other foods, including tea (Camellia sinensis), some American hollies (yaupon and guayusa) and the kola nut. It is a white or colourless solid, but commercial samples can appear yellowish.
Theobromine, a metabolite of caffeine, is processed in the liver into xanthine and methyluric acid, peaks in the blood 2–3 hours after ingestion due to its fat solubility, and primarily acts by inhibiting adenosine receptors with minor phosphodiesterase inhibition. It is a mild heart stimulant and bronchodilator in humans with limited central nervous system effects. It can be toxic or fatal to animals like dogs and cats due to their slower metabolism of the compound.