F: Purine Alkaloids

The last three types of alkaloids discussed in the series beginning with this specific group.

Purine alkaloids

The basis for the classification of pyridine, tropane, quinoline, isoquinoline, indole, imidazole, purine, steroidal, and alkaloidal amines.

Ring structure or nucleus of the chief alkaloid group in the plant drug

An alternative name for purine alkaloids.

Xanthine alkaloids

The characteristic of purine alkaloids regarding their origin from amino acids.

Not derived from an amino acid

The basic nucleus from which purine alkaloids are derived.

Xanthine

The chemical name for xanthine.

2,6-dioxypurine

The designation in "2,6-dioxy" that indicates the presence of double-bonded oxygens.

Second and sixth positions

The structural composition of the purine ring system.

6-membered pyrimidine ring fused to the 5-membered imidazole ring

A well-known example of a purine alkaloid acting as a CNS stimulant and diuretic.

Caffeine

A purine alkaloid widely known as an anti-asthma drug.

Theophylline

A prominent purine alkaloid component of tea.

Theobromine

The collective name for caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine.

Methylxanthines

The chemical name for caffeine.

1,3,7-trimethylxanthine

The chemical name for theophylline.

1,3-dimethylxanthine

The chemical name for theobromine.

3,7-dimethylxanthine

The reason why coffee and tea are effective for hangovers.

Because they are diuretics that help eliminate substances like alcohol residues

A purine nucleotide that is a vital structural unit of nucleic acids.

Adenine

A purine nucleotide that serves as a vital structural unit of nucleic acids alongside adenine.

Guanine

A purine analog drug that acts as an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase.

Allopurinol

The byproduct of hypoxanthine through oxidation by the enzyme xanthine oxidase.

Xanthine

The product formed after the oxidation of xanthine by xanthine oxidase.

Uric acid

The enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of hypoxanthine to xanthine and xanthine to uric acid.

Xanthine oxidase

A purine found in human muscle tissues formed during purine catabolism.

Hypoxanthine

The brand name for Allopurinol.

Zyloprim®

The clinical use of Allopurinol related to joint health.

To prevent gout

The clinical use of Allopurinol related to the renal system.

To prevent specific types of kidney stones

The clinical use of Allopurinol during cancer treatment.

For high uric acid levels that can occur with chemotherapy

The reason high uric acid levels occur during chemotherapy.

Anti-cancer drugs break down cells, releasing excessive purines that convert to uric acid

The specific positions of methyl groups in caffeine.

1, 3, and 7

The specific positions of methyl groups in theophylline.

1 and 3

The specific positions of methyl groups in theobromine.

3 and 7

Examples of purine alkaloids present in plants that are less widely utilized than the primary three.

7-methylxanthine, paraxanthine, theacrine, and liberine

Examples of methyluric acids present in plants.

Theacrine, 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid, methylliberine, and liberine

Another term for the biosynthesis of natural methylxanthines.

Purine biosynthesis de novo

The initial starting molecule in the general pathway for purine biosynthesis.

AMP (adenosine 5'-monophosphate)

The intermediate formed from AMP in the de novo pathway.

IMP (inosine 5'-monophosphate)

The intermediate formed from IMP before the specific methylxanthine detours.

XMP (xanthosine 5'-monophosphate)

The intermediate formed from XMP in the pathway toward caffeine.

7-Methyl-XMP

The intermediate following 7-Methyl-XMP in the caffeine pathway.

7-Methylxanthosine

The precursor directly before theobromine in the caffeine biosynthesis pathway.

7-Methylxanthine

The final synthesized product of the methylxanthine biosynthetic sequence.

Caffeine

The alternate precursor that leads to xanthosine.

GMP (guanosine 5'-monophosphate)

The pathway steps to caffeine via theophylline.

Xanthine → 3-Methylxanthine → Theophylline → Caffeine

The metabolic breakdown of molecules into smaller units or metabolites.

Catabolism

The immediate metabolites of caffeine during breakdown.

Theophylline and theobromine

The intermediate metabolite formed from the breakdown of theophylline or theobromine.

3-Methylxanthine

The product resulting from the catabolism of 3-methylxanthine.

Xanthine

The product of purine catabolism following uric acid.

Allantoin

The final nitrogenous breakdown products of the purine catabolism pathway.

CO

2

​

+NH

3

​

(carbon dioxide and ammonia)

The family name for Arabica coffee.

Rubiaceae

The scientific name for Robusta coffee.

Coffea canephora

The major alkaloids found in Coffea liberica and Coffea dewevrei.

Theacrine and liberine

The scientific name for Tea.

Camellia sinensis

The family name for Tea.

Theaceae

The scientific name for Kucha.

Camellia assamica var Kucha

The major alkaloid found in Camellia irrawadiensis and Camellia ptilophylla.

Theobromine

The scientific name for Cacao.

Theobroma cacao

The scientific name for Cupu.

Theobroma grandiflorum

The scientific name for Guaraná.

Paullinia cupana

The scientific name for Yerba maté.

Ilex paraguariensis

The family name for the Cola species.

Sterculiaceae

The family name for Citrus species.

Rutaceae

Common names for the family Rubiaceae.

Coffee, madder, or bedstraw family

The botanical definition of coffee bean or seed.

Dried ripe seed of Coffea arabica or C. liberica deprived of most of the seed coat

The percentage of caffeine found in coffee seeds.

1-2%

The N-methylbetaine of nicotinic acid found in coffee seeds.

Trigonellin

The primary active constituent responsible for the central nervous system action of coffee.

Caffeine

The fatty oil content percentage in coffee seeds.

10-13%

The physical changes that occur when coffee seeds are roasted.

Seeds swell and change color to dark brown

The volatile substance released during roasting that causes the characteristic aroma of coffee.

Caffeol

The natural chemical combination from which caffeine is freed during roasting.

Chlorogenic acid

The preparation method for decaffeinized coffee.

Extracting most of the caffeine while retaining the pleasant characteristic aroma

The maximum percentage of caffeine normally contained in decaffeinized coffee.

0.08%

The scientific name and family for Kola nuts.

Cola nitida (Fam. Sterculiaceae)

The constituents of Kola nuts.

Up to 3.5% caffeine and 1% theobromine

The commercial use of Kola nuts in the beverage industry.

Manufacture of non-alcoholic carbonated beverages

The two historical ingredients after which Coca-Cola is named.

Coca plant and cola nuts

The botanical source of cocoa seeds.

Theobroma cacao (Sterculiaceae)

The typical height of the Theobroma cacao tree.

4-6 meters

The percentage of theobromine found in cocoa seeds.

0.9-3.0%

The antioxidant water-soluble polyphenols found in fresh cocoa seeds.

Epicatechol, leucoanthocyanins, and anthocyanins

The health benefits of the polyphenols found in cocoa.

Prevent inflammation, cellular aging, cardiovascular problems, and certain types of cancer

The scientific name and family for Guarana.

Paullinia cupana (Sapindaceae)

The common name for the family Sapindaceae.

Soapberry family

The specific tannin found in Guarana that comprises 25% of its constituents.

Catechutannic acid

The definition of an astringent.

Slightly acidic or bitter

The constituent responsible for the astringent property of Guarana.

Tannins (catechutannic acid)

The prepared part of Camellia sinensis used to make tea.

Leaves

The percentage of gallotannic acid in tea.

15%

The percentage of caffeine in tea.

1-4%

The purine alkaloids found in small amounts in tea.

Theobromine, theophylline, and xanthine

The traditional preparation method for green tea in China and Japan.

Rapidly drying freshly picked leaves in copper pans over mild artificial heat

The appearance of black tea.

Crumpled, blackish green mass

The characteristic taste of black tea.

Astringent and bitter