ABSTRACT
This chapter describes caffeine containing plants including Camelia sinensis, Coffea arabica and Theobroma cacao, the medicinal chemicals obtained from them, and their properties. In coffee, tea, and cacao plants, caffeine is synthesised from a chemical called xanthosine via the intermediaries 7-methylxanthosine and theobromine. Caffeine itself has been shown to have bronchodilator properties though not marketed for this indication. It is approved for the treatment of apnoea in premature infants, acting presumably through a stimulant effect on the breathing centre in the brain. Caffeine is also a component of some over-the-counter compound analgesic formulations. Theobromine has been shown to be an effective bronchodilator, albeit less potent than theophylline, and to have potential in treating chronic cough, for which it is approved for use in South Korea. Coffee consumption is associated with reduced all-cause mortality in the general population; higher coffee intake has been found to be associated with a reduced risk of heart failure, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
