Caffeine

1. Caffeine

2. Introduction:
• Caffeine is chemically 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine
(C8H10N4O2).
• It is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant
of the methylxanthine class of psychoactive
drugs.
• It is a bitter, white crystalline purine, a
methylxanthine alkaloid, and thus closely
related chemically to the adenine and guanine
contained in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and
ribonucleic acid (RNA).

3. CHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF
CAFFEINE

4. Source of caffeine:
• BIOLOGICAL SOURCE : It is obtained from
dried ripe seeds of COFFEA ARABICA LINN or
C.LIBERICA HIERN.
• FAMILY: Rubiaceae

5. History:
• 1st use of caffeine as early as 600,000 BCE .
• 1820 - Caffeine was first isolated from coffee by German
chemist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge.
• 1880 - Caffeinated soft drinks appear.
• 1903 - Researchers remove caffeine from beans ‘without
destroying the flavor.
• 1995 - Coffee becomes the worlds most popular beverage
(overtaking tea ) .

6. Mechanism of Action
• Caffeine's primary mechanism of action is as an antagonist of
adenosine receptors in the brain.
• Adenosine in the Brain :
• In the brain neurons are transmitting electrical energy.
• When activity is too high adenosine molecules stop the
neuron cells from firing.
• Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors with its own molecule
preventing the adenosine molecule from binding.
• Brain activity remains at its excited state and can even
increase in activity because adenosine is unable to slow it
down.

7. • Similar chemical structure and therefore have
mimicking behaviour

8. Adenosine and caffeine
The binding of Adenosine to an
adenosine receptor causes the
receptor to undergo a shape
change which triggers a
biochemical cascade. The end
result is the opening of ion
channels and the slowing of
activity.
• The binding of caffeine to a
adenosine receptor causes a
shape change that does not
initiate a biochemical cascade.
Instead, neuronal activity
remains the same or increase.

9. Extraction of caffeine:

10. Synthesis of caffeine:

11. Caffeine (as a lead compound)

12. Caffeine (as a lead compound)
• Paraxanthine (80%):
– Also a CNS stimulant
– Release fat to fuel muscles leading to ↑ athletic
ability
– Also has energizing effect (↑ ephedrine in blood)
• Theobromine (12%):
– ↑ flow of O2 and nutrients to brain
– Dilate blood vessels and ↑ urine volume
• Theophylline (4%):
– Induces relaxation of smooth muscles in the bronchial
tree causing bronchodilation

13. Uses of Caffeine
• Psychotropic drug
• Diuretic
• Food additive
• Adjuvant
• CNS stimulant
• Pain relief
• Motivation/Productivity
• Neurological conditions