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Chapter 16 · Nature’s Pharmacy - Natural Pharmaceuticals
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only found in coffee and tea, but is also added to
soft drinks such as cola-lemonades or so-called
energy drinks. Caffeine is also used in sweets
and chocolate. As a pharmaceutical, it increases
the analgesic effect of acetylsalicylic acid and
is therefore used in drugs to treat migraine
headaches.
The worldwide annual consumption of isolated caffeine is currently around 20,000 tons.
About 5000 tons of caffeine are extracted from
natural sources every year: According to a process
the first caffeine synthesis by Emil Fischer. Caffeine thus belongs to the large class of purines
(. Fig. 16.7).
Caffeine has a very broad spectrum of pharmacological effects. It stimulates the central
nervous system and increases heart rhythm. It
has a stimulating effect, increases concentration
and eliminates the feeling of tiredness. Caffeine
is the most widely consumed psychostimulant in
the world; at the same time, it is relatively inexpensive and legally available everywhere. It is not
. Fig. 16.6 Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, the discoverer of caffeine (© Wikipedia)
N
N
N
H
N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Purine
HN
N
H
N
H
N
O
O
Xanthine
N
N
N
N
O
O
Caaeine
. Fig. 16.7 Structural formulae of purine (left), santhine (centre) and caffeine (right)