Description

• General description: Xanthine is an important component of the various natural and synthetic medicinal active compounds.[1] Various forms of xanthine such as caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline are found in chocolate, cocoa, tea, yeast, potatoes, animal organs, and coffee.[2] Xanthine is a purine-based natural heterocyclic alkaloid [2] composed of a central nitrogen atom and a pyrimidine ring that is fused with an imidazole ring.[1] Xanthine is produced from several different precursors in the purine metabolic pathway: deamination of guanine-by-guanine deaminase and conversion of hypoxanthine by xanthine oxidoreductase.[3]
• Biochem/physiol Actions: Xanthine participates in the catabolism of nucleic acids and nucleotides and is a precursor of uric acid.[2] It is a versatile compound that shows therapeutic effects in several pharmacological conditions related to respiratory tract, central nervous system (CNS), kidney, stomach, smooth muscle cells, and heart.[1] Xanthine acts as a biomarker for detecting gout.[4]