Overview:
Theobromine, also known as xantheose, is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant. It is in the methylxanthine class of chemical compounds, which also includes the similar compounds theophylline and caffeine. Despite its name, the compound contains no bromine — theobromine is derived from Theobroma, the genus of the cacao tree, which is composed of the Greek roots theo ("God") and broma ("food"), meaning "food of the gods", with the suffix -ine given to alkaloids and other basic nitrogen-containing compounds.
Theobromine is the primary alkaloid found in cocoa and chocolate; chocolate contains 0.5-2.7% theobromine. Theobromine can also be found in small amounts in the kola nut (1.0-2.5%), the guarana berry, and the tea plant.
Theobromine is a CNS stimulant, dilates blood vessels, and increases urine volume.
