10 Facts About Theobromine

Theobromine, known as xantheose, is an alkaloid whose name is derived from the Theobroma family.

Theobromine is white or colourless, but commercial samples can be yellowish.

Theobromine is an isomer of theophylline, as well as paraxanthine.

Theobromine was first discovered in 1841 in cacao beans by Russian chemist Aleksandr Voskresensky.

Theobromine is derived from Theobroma, the name of the genus of the cacao tree, with the suffix -ine given to alkaloids and other basic nitrogen-containing compounds.

Theobromine is the primary alkaloid found in cocoa and chocolate.

Theobromine can be found in trace amounts in the kola nut, the guarana berry, yerba mate, Ilex vomitoria, Ilex guayusa, and the tea plant.

Theobromine is a purine alkaloid derived from xanthosine, a nucleoside.

Theobromine has no significant stimulant effect on the human central nervous system.

Theobromine is weaker in both its inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases and its antagonism of adenosine receptors.