1,7-Dimethylxanthine paraxanthine

There are two commonly used and robust methods for phenotyping. The first one measures caffeine (1,3,7-methylxanthine) and its N-demethylated metabolite 1,7-dimethylxanthine (paraxanthine) in a plasma or saliva sample collected within 5 to 7 hours post caffeine dosing (Fuhr and Rost 1996). The second one uses the assay of the metabolites 1-methylurate... 

Disposition in the Body. Rapidly absorbed after oral administration bioavailability almost 100%. Metabolic reactions include V-demethylation and oxidation to uric acid derivatives. About 85% of a dose is excreted in the urine in 48 hours with up to 40% of the dose as 1-methyluric acid, 10 to 15% as 1-methylxanthine and up to 35% as 5-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyluracil and 5-acetylamino-6-amino-3-methyluracil other metabolites excreted in the urine include theophylline, 1,7-dimethylxanthine (paraxanthine), 7-methylxanthine, and 1,3-dimethyluric acid. Less than 10% is excreted in the urine as unchanged drug. The extent of V-acetylation is genetically determined. Caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, and paraxanthine are found in plasma from dietary sources especially coffee, tea and cocoa. An average cup of coffee or tea contains approximately 100 mg of caffeine. 

Methylxanthine is the major purine constituent of human urine (3.1 g in 10001) (1898ZPC(24)364). 3- and 7-Methylpurines are also minor constituents of urine, especially following large doses of caffeine or other methylated xanthines. 1,3-Dimethylxanthine (theophylline) occurs with caffeine in tea leaves and is a powerful diuretic and has been used clinically for this purpose (generally as an adduct with salts of organic acids) and also in the treatment of asthma. 1,7-Dimethylxanthine (paraxanthine) is also an efficient diuretic and, in addition, possesses antithyroid properties (45JCS751). The main purine constituent... 

Fig. 11.2. Separation of some xanthine derivatives and urinary metabolites Column uBondapak C18 (300x4 mm ID), mobile phase acetonitrile - 0.1 M disodium hydrogen phosphate and 0.1 M sodium dihydrogen phosphate in water (2 38), flow rate 1.5 ml/min, detection UV 254 nm. Peaks 1, uric acid 2, creatinine 3, 1-methyluric acid, 3-methyluric acid and 7-methyluric acid 4, xanthine 5, 7-methylxanthine 6, 1,3-dimethyluric acid 7, 3-methyl-xanthine 8, 1-methylxanthine 9, theobromine 10, 8-chlorotheophyl1ine 11, theophylline and 1,7-dimethylxanthine (paraxanthine) 12, dyphylline 13, caffeine, (reproduced with permission from ref. 80, by courtesy of Clinical Chemistry)...

The key metabolites of caffeine (a trimethylxanthine) found in plasma, are the dimethylxanthines paraxanthine, theophylline, and theobromine the monomethylxanthine 1-methylxanthine the C-8 oxidized monomethylxanthine 1-methyluric acid and the ring oxidized uracil 5-acetyl-amino-6-amino-3-methyluracil. 

Closely related methylxanthines include theophylline (1,3-dimethylxanthine), theobromine (3,7 dimethylxanthine) and paraxanthine (1,7-dimethylxanthine). Theobromine is found primarily in chocolate. These derivatives of caffeine are important because they are pharmacologically active and also are the common metabolites of caffeine. 

Theobromine was isolated from the seeds of the cacao tree and then shortly afterward was synthesized from xanthine by Fischer.132 Theobromine is the primary bitter-tasting alkaloid found in cocoa and chocolate chocolate contains 0.5—2.7% theobromine. Theobromine is water insoluble and is an isomer of theophylline as well as paraxanthine. Theobromine is categorized as 3,7-dimethylxanthine while theophylline is 1,3-dimethyl-7f/-purine-2,6-dione and paraxanthine is 1,7-dimethylxanthine. Theophylline is known to be a bitter-tasting principle of green tea. Theobromine is used as a vasodilator (a blood vessel widener), as an aid in urination, and... 

Caffeine (a trimethylxanthine ) is metabolized in the human liver by cytochrome P450 oxidase enzymes, which rip methyl groups off the caffeine molecule, producing three dimethylxanthines called paraxanthine (84%), theobromine (12%) and theophylline (4%) -followed by further demethylation and oxidation, leading to urates and uracil derivatives. 

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