The relevance of theobromine for the beneficial effects of cocoa consumption

Frontiers in Pharmacology
Eva Martínez-PinillaRafael Franco

Abstract

Cocoa consumption began in America and in the mid sixteenth Century it quickly spread to Europe. Beyond being considered a pleasant habit due to its rich sweet lingering taste, chocolate was considered a good nutrient and even a medicine. Traditionally, health benefits of cocoa have been related with the high content of antioxidants of Theobroma cocoa beans. However, the direct psychoactive effect due to methylxanthines in cocoa is notable. Theobromine and caffeine, in the proportions found in cocoa, are responsible for the liking of the food/beverage. These compounds influence in a positive way our moods and our state of alertness. Theobromine, which is found in higher amounts than caffeine, seems to be behind several effects attributed to cocoa intake. The main mechanisms of action are inhibition of phosphodiesterases and blockade of adenosine receptors. Further mechanisms are being explored to better understand the health benefits associated to theobromine consumption. Unlike what happens in other mammals -pets- included, theobromine is safe for humans and has fewer unwanted effects than caffeine. Therefore, theobromine deserves attention as one of the most attractive molecules in cocoa.

References

Oct 1, 1983·Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics·S M TarkaE S Vesell
Mar 22, 1984·The New England Journal of Medicine·A B BeckerF E Simons
Apr 16, 1984·Toxicology·M BonatiS Garattini
Dec 1, 1994·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·P M Kris-EthertonT A Pearson
Jul 9, 2002·European Journal of Neurology : the Official Journal of the European Federation of Neurological Societies·L Maia, A de Mendonça
Mar 20, 2003·Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics·I Maria JohnsonR Malathi
Nov 19, 2004·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·Omar S UsmaniPeter J Barnes
Nov 19, 2004·Psychopharmacology·Hendrik J SmitPeter J Rogers
Mar 18, 2005·Psychopharmacology·Hendrik J Smit, Rachel J Blackburn
Feb 17, 2006·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Francisco CiruelaRafael Franco
Oct 27, 2006·Allergologia et immunopathologia·L Prieto-LastraA García-Cubero
Feb 26, 2008·International Journal of Pharmaceutics·Johann M van ZylPieter Van der Bijl
Jun 19, 2009·Epidemiology·Mark A KlebanoffRichard J Levine
Feb 26, 2010·Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD·João CostaAntónio Vaz-Carneiro
Feb 26, 2010·Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD·Dale A PelligrinoFrancesco Vetri
Aug 31, 2010·Paediatric Drugs·Emma HarrisSanjay K Patole
Sep 23, 2010·Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology·Hendrik Jan Smit
Sep 23, 2010·Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology·Jiang-Fan Chen, Yijuang Chern
Oct 26, 2010·Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the British Diabetic Association·D D MellorS L Atkin
Aug 9, 2011·European Journal of Nutrition·Carlota OleagaVéronique Noé
Dec 14, 2011·Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra·Marjo H EskelinenMiia Kivipelto
Jun 12, 2012·American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology·Tracy TazzeoLuke J Janssen
Jun 26, 2012·Neuropharmacology·Elissa B KlaassenDick J Veltman
Oct 12, 2012·The New England Journal of Medicine·Franz H Messerli
Nov 20, 2012·Journal of Dietary Supplements·Morgan PendletonBrian Odle
Dec 12, 2012·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·L S BittencourtI B M Cruz
Feb 5, 2013·Journal of Dietary Supplements·Morgan PendletonBrian Odle
Feb 20, 2013·Psychopharmacology·Matthew J BaggottHarriet de Wit
Apr 19, 2013·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·Nicole NeufingerlElke A Trautwein
Dec 24, 2013·Systematic Reviews·Jaime Andres MogollonSylvie Dodin
Mar 1, 2014·Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD·Sven HallerPanteleimon Giannakopoulos
Jun 3, 2014·Experimental and Molecular Pathology·Vasanthi R SunilDebra L Laskin

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 11, 2016·Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD·Afonso MoreiraHenrique Barros
Jul 30, 2016·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·João P MonteiroBranca M Silva
Nov 12, 2016·The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry·Mitsugu YonedaOsamu Shido
Nov 20, 2018·Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology·Naotoshi SugimotoOsamu Shido
Apr 20, 2019·Nutrients·Olga Rojo-PovedaAnd Giuseppe Zeppa
Dec 24, 2018·Foods·Carolina Cortés-HerreraFabio Granados-Chinchilla
Feb 2, 2019·Psychopharmacology·Ilaria CovaS Pomati
Nov 21, 2020·Journal of the American College of Nutrition·Saptadip Samanta
May 29, 2021·Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition·Noor Ariefandie FebriantoFan Zhu
Jul 3, 2021·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·Sweta BhambhaniAshok P Giri

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Clinical Trials Mentioned

NCT01416480
NCT01656668
NCT01481389

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved