Xanthine

Xanthine is a nitrogen-containing product of the oxidation of purines (adenosine and guanine). Xanthine is an intermediate product of the breakdown of nucleic acids to uric acid.

Xanthine is formed in the body of humans and animals during the deamination of purine bases that make up nucleic acids. It is a purine derivative and belongs to the methylxanthines.

The main sources of xanthine in food are meat, fish, dairy products, coffee, tea and cocoa. In the body, xanthine is metabolized to form uric acid, which is excreted by the kidneys.

Elevated levels of xanthine in the blood and urine may indicate disorders of purine metabolism, for example, with gout. Xanthine is also used medicinally as a bronchodilator to treat bronchial asthma.

Xanthine is a nitrogen-containing substance that is formed by the oxidation of purines contained in nucleic acid molecules. Xanthine plays an important role in cell metabolism, as it is an intermediate in the process of breaking down nucleotides into uric acid, which is then excreted from the body in the urine.

Xanthine is formed as a result of the reaction between purine and oxygen. Purines are organic compounds that are the main components of the nucleotide bases of DNA and RNA. Purines are also found in urine and bone marrow, where they provide energy for cells.

In the body, xanthine is used as an energy source for various tissues and cells. It can be used as a substrate for the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the main source of energy in cells. In addition, xanthine can be used to synthesize purine nucleotides such as adenine and guanine, which are necessary for the synthesis of DNA and RNA.

However, excess xanthine in the body can lead to various problems. For example, high levels of xanthine can cause increased levels of uric acid in the blood, which can lead to kidney stones and other urinary problems.

Additionally, elevated xanthine levels may also be associated with the development of certain diseases such as gout and hyperuricemia. Gout is a condition in which the level of uric acid in the blood is elevated due to a disorder in purine metabolism. Hyperuricemia is a condition when the level of uric acid in the blood is higher than normal.

Thus, xanthine plays an important role in the metabolism and energy metabolism of cells. However, too much or too little xanthine can lead to various diseases and health problems. Therefore, it is important to maintain optimal levels of xanthine in the body to avoid possible health problems.

Xanthine is a biologically active plant alkaloid belonging to the pyrroles group. This also includes caffeine, which is similar in structure, therefore it is also of the xanthine series. The main alkaloid component of such plants is represented by N-methyl derivatives of xanthine (ginkgolicosides and others).

Xanthine is formed in plants by the oxidation of guanidine, which is a product of hydrogenation of the nucleic base of guanine. A similar method of obtaining an alkaloid is typical for green tea. In coal tar, xanthine can be formed during intermediate reactions of biological oxidation of plant components. Xanthine alkaloids were also found in seawater on coral polyps. They are synthesized by microorganisms specialized in the breakdown of amino acids and nucleotides. At the same time, xanthine itself is involved in the metabolism of animals and humans.

When drinking green tea, it contains at least xanthine. It is possible that the compounds were formed in the body after the oxidation of guan. The latter are nitrogen-containing organic substances from which the nucleic bases that make up DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) are built. By binding to proteins, the products of this metabolism are excreted through the kidneys in the urine. The content of xanthines and their derivatives in the cells of higher plants is associated with the presence in many cells of plant extracts of biocatalysts—polyphenoloxidases enzymes that can catalyze the synthesis of these compounds from simpler substances, such as purines, which are the main components of some proteins in animals and higher plants. Derivatives close to xanthine are caffeine and theophylline - the main components of natural and artificial coffee.