Anyhow, Theobromine is actually a type of Methylxanthine, a special class of alkaloid molecules that are found in over sixty plant species. I mentioned caffeine earlier being a close relative of this molecule and, yes, caffeine is in this group of alkaloids as well. Theobromine is the most important methylxanthine found in the cocoa tree, hence my reference to chocolate (and coffee for that matter!). As far as its use as a drug, Theobromine can be used as a mild stimulant and to relax the heart, as a treatment for high blood pressure due to its ability to shrink blood vessels, and also to increase urine production as well as be found in cough medicines.
Lastly, I would like to thank the Russian chemist, Alexander Woskresensky, for discovering this fantastic molecule that gives me and so many others so much joy. He discovered Theobromine in cocoa beans in 1841, and the molecule was later synthesized into xanthine by Hermann Emil Fischer. Note that Theobromine can be found in more plants than just the cocoa tree, it's just that it is primarily found in that tree. Theobromine itself is either white or colorless and actually tastes bitter (explains its abundance in dark chocolate particularly). The molecule's chemical formula is C7H8N4O2 and can be seen drawn out below in its Skeletal form.
References
1) http://chemistry.about.com/od/factsstructures/a/theobromine-chemistry.htm
2) http://www.3fatchicks.com/what-is-theobromine/
Who doesn't love chocolate? Well maybe there's some, but for the most part, a majority of us love chocolate! I always thought the thing about chocolate that we love was the caffine, so I was really surprised to find out that it was because of the molecule Theobromine. Granted I still do not know much about Theobromine except that its name mean "food of the god" and that it is part of the alkaloid group, but it is still pretty interesting to learn that chocolate is so highly praised to be called "food of the gods". I will just have to research what the alkaloid group is later to get a better idea about theobromine.
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting to me, I myself am not a chocolate fan, one of the very few people I know who does not like its taste or smell, but chocolate always looks yummy! I think that you did a great job relating to the audience and writing as if you were actually talking with someone and not just simply telling a bunch of facts. I also like how you put a bit of your personal interests in this post. Very nicely done!
ReplyDeleteOk, I will go ahead and say it... I am not a big fan of chocolate, and yet I'm continuously buying it for company/girl friends. I am glad you mentioned that the taste is really bitter, because a lot of times when people tell me that they love chocolate, I am always tempted to make them eat real/dark chocolate (NOT the over sugared/dairy version of chocolate).
ReplyDeleteTheobromine, the organic molecule in chocolate. I do not know why but I think knowing more about chocolate makes it more yummy? I am eating a chocolate right now, no kidding! I did know that dark chocolate is good for health, but I was not too sure about any chocolate in general. It is good to know that theobromine has all these good qualities. It makes eating chocolate a little more enjoyable.
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