Caffeine, Ephedrine, and Ma Huang

History of Caffeine

• First harvested in Ethiopia during 11th century

• Turks controlled coffee cultivation (17th Century)

  • Afterward moved to Europe

• French and English 

  • Used for medicine

• Colonial America used tea until 1773

  • Now coffee

• Concern of coffee addiction in 20th century

• Cola=main source of caffeine in US

What is the Chemistry behind Caffeine?

• Methylated Xanthines

  • Theophylline, theobromine, and caffeine

How many Methyl groups does Caffeine have?

THREE

1) Stimulates CNS

2) Diuretic effect

3) Stimulates cardiac tissue

How quickly is caffeine absorbed?

• 30-60 mins

• Peak levels in 60 mins

• Half life=1-2 hours

What does caffeine do?

• Blocks the action of adenosine

• Adenosine= Neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation, sleepiness, and vasodilation. Blocking that results in:

  • ↑ Alertness

  • Vasoconstriction

  • Bronchodilation

  • Constricts cerebral blood vessels (which is why is protects against headaches)

  • ↑ Body metabolism (Lipolysis)

  • ↑  HR, BP, and Body Temp.

  • Diuretic

What dose is required to obtain effects like ↑ Alertness, clearer thinking, ↑ Rxn time, and ↑ attention span?

85-250mg doses

How many mg of caffeine in a 6oz. serving?

100mg

How many mg of caffeine in a 6oz serving of tea?

60mg

How much caffeine in a 1 oz. piece of chocolate?

6mg caffeine + 44mg theobromine (1/10 the power of caffeine) = 10mg caffeine total

What is theobromine?

Natural stimulant

• Chemically, it’s a methylxanthine, in the same family as caffeine and theophylline (another methylxanthine)

What are methylxanthines?

a group of naturally occurring stimulants — caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline — that increase alertness, open airways, and boost metabolism by blocking adenosine and increasing cAMP (2nd messenger molecule).

How many mg caffeine in coca-cola, Pepsi , mountain Dew?

45-55mg

What is 100% of the daily value (DV%) of caffeine?

400mg (4 cups of coffee)

How many GRAMS of caffeine do you have to ingest for it to be toxic or lethal?

Toxic- 1g

Lethal- 5g

What health risks are associated with too much caffeine?

• Heart problems

• stimulates calcium excretion and inhibits calcium absorption = osteoporosis

  • B/c of the diuretic effect calcium leaves body through urine

• Withdrawal symptoms for those coming off 

Clinical uses for caffeine?

• Alertness in fatigued states

• Additive in analgesic mixtures

• additive in some diet pills

What is Ephedrine?

What is the 1970 Controlled Substances Act?

• Sympathomimetic Amines

  • Mimics epinephrine/norepinephrine

• Usually combined w/ caffeine (Guarana)

• Comes from the ephedra plant

• 1970 controlled substances act = Placed control mechanisms on amphetamines

What is Guarana?

plant native to the Amazon rainforest (especially Brazil), known for its high natural caffeine content and use as a stimulant in energy drinks and supplements.

What is the 1970 Controlled substances Act?

placed control mechanisms on Amphetamines

What are the actions of ephedrine?

• Structured similar to amphetamines

• not believed to cross blood-brain barrier

• Stimulates release of Norepinephrine from nerve endings

• Bind to Alpha and beta receptors

• Less potent than amphetamines concerning:

  • Food intake

  • motor activity

  • behaviors

What are amphetamines?

powerful stimulants that heighten alertness and energy by flooding the brain with dopamine and norepinephrine,

• ADHD use

• Narcolepsy use

How does Ephedrine compare to amphetamines?

doses of ephedrine @ 75mg and 150mg = doses of amphetamines @ 15mg and 30mg

What can Ephedrine do at high doses?

• Can cross blood-brain barrier

• Euphoria and ↑ alertness

• Can cause hallucinations, psychosis, and compulsive, stereotypic drug seeking behavior

General effects of ephedrine?

• ↑ HR, BP, and bronchodilation

• believed to ↑ metabolic rate

When does Ephedrine reach peak levels in circulation? and how long do the effects last?

1-2 hours

12-16 hours

Why is ephedrine used for sport and performance?

• ↑ mental and physical strength

• Weight loss

• ↑ awareness

• NO RESEARCH TO SUPPORT THOUGH

• Banned by NCAA, most pro leagues, and IOC due to side effects

What are adverse effects of Ephedrine?

• Serious effects when combined with caffeine

• Restlessness, anxiety, headaches, dizziness, mania, hallucinations, seizures

• Cerebral hemorrhage

• acute hypertension

• arrhythmias, renal failure, MI’s have been experienced

• deaths

What is Ma Huang?

Ma huang is ephedra. It’s a potent stimulant herb that was banned in supplements because it hits the cardiovascular system hard.

What are substitutes of Ephedrine?

• Synephrine

• Citrus Aurantium (the bitter orange plant and natural source of synephrine)

  • Both possess B-agonist activities

How do Synephrine and Citrus aurantium work?

Acts on β-3 adrenergic receptors in fat cells → increases lipolysis (fat breakdown) and thermogenesis (heat production). Has weaker effects on β-1 and β-2 receptors than ephedrine, so it’s less potent on heart rate and blood pressure, but still stimulating.