Ilex cassine

Ilex cassine Ilex vormitoria Caffeine Theobromine Theophylline Caffeine Theobromine Theophylline... 

Edwards, A. L. and Bennett, B. C. 2005. Diversity of methylxanthine content in Ilex cassine L. and Ilex vormitoria Ait. Assessing sources of the north American stimulant cassina. Economic Botany, 59 275-285. 

The leaves of the yaupon are used as a tea substitute. It is a holly (Ilex cassine) which grows in the southern United States. The Indians attributed many virtues to the tea, and allowed only men to drink it Yaupon tea contains caffeine. 

Of the 42 species of Ilex tested, only four were regarded as positive I. cassine, I. coriacea, I. crenata, and./, glabra (2/3). I. cassine and I. crenata had previously been reported as alkaloid-positive. The purines do not give definitive alkaloid tests with the Dragcndorff reagent and are not considered true alkaloids by some investigators. 

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