Abstract
This review shortly summarized bio-medical activities of purine alkaloids, caffeine (caf), theophyline (top) and theobromine (tob). Caffeine potentiates the cytotoxicity of a variety of DNA domaging agents. Caffeine increased antitumor activity of some cancerostatic drugs. Caffeine inhibits the carcinogenic activity of cigarette smoke, significantly potentiating the therapeutic effect of acetaminophenol, cyclophosphoramide, enhances lipid oxidation, affects the central nervous system and alters cardiovascular system. Theophyline has expressive anti-inflammatory and antiasthmatic effect, and enhanced mobilization of lipid reduces the brain regional adenylate cyclase activity, facilitates glucose inhibition. Theophyline is muscle relaxant, vasodilator, diuretic and cardiac stimulant. Theobromine increases antitumor activity of adriamycin and doxorubicin, has expressive anti-inflammatory effect and it is classical diureticum. Several examples of caffeine with some organic substrates as well as with copper are also outlined. Increasing activity of the respective drugs in the present of the purine alkaloids can be ascribed to direct interaction as was proved by X-ray data of some caffeine adducts with organic substances as well as Cu(II) complexes.
Highlights
Alkaloids are most fascinating organic compounds and many researches pay great attention to them
Caffeine, theophyline and theobromine are well known and daily consuming by man
In spite of the fact, that from the structural point of view: caffeine (1,3, 7-trimethylxantine), theophyline (1,3-dimethylxantine) and theobromine (3,7-dimethylxantine) are very similar, their bio-medical activities are differing, for example, diuretic effect increases in the order: caffeine < theophy
Summary
Alkaloids are most fascinating organic compounds and many researches pay great attention to them. Purine alkaloids are chosen from the wide range of alkaloids. Caffeine, theophyline and theobromine are well known and daily consuming by man. The purine alkaloids possess pharmacological properties as therapeutic agents with a wide variety of activity. In spite of the fact, that from the structural point of view: caffeine (1,3, 7-trimethylxantine), theophyline (1,3-dimethylxantine) and theobromine (3,7-dimethylxantine) are very similar, their bio-medical activities are differing, for example, diuretic effect increases in the order: caffeine < theophy-. The reason of the improving bio-medical activity of drugs in the present of the purine alkaloids will be discussed
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