What is xanthine?

Xanthines are a group of compounds based on purine base derivatives These compounds are alkaloids and include mild stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine Some of xanthine have medicinal value and can treat asthma and other respiratory diseases Xanthine is involved in the physiological process of human body and is the intermediate of producing uric acid There is a genetic disease called xanthinuria that interferes with xanthine metabolism The basic chemical structure of these compounds is purine base This is a molecule composed of two groups of fused aromatic rings containing nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen molecules They are common because two bases are also part of DNA and RNA These are guanine and adenine Xanthine can also be found outside the earth's atmosphere, based on an analysis of the composition of meteorites falling in Australia Xanthine has a mild stimulatory effect and can help promote respiration So they are good for asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis Xanthine derivatives are most commonly used in the production of drugs such as methyl These compounds are also used to stimulate the heart rate and affect the central nervous system, but there are also some side effects associated with them Because of this, they are not the first choice for asthma treatment On the other hand, the newly developed synthetic xanthine has less side effects To minimize adverse effects, patients should avoid caffeine and chocolate consumption while taking xanthine drugs Xanthine is also an important intermediate in purine degradation and can be found in most human organs and liquids Uric acid is the final product of purine decomposition and is normally excreted through urine In some cases, the compound accumulates in the joints and causes gout Xanthine metabolism is accomplished by a liver enzyme called xanthine oxidase This enzyme involves two different reactions It transports hypoxanthine, which is the intermediate of adenine decomposition It also reverses xanthine to uric acid Inhibitors called purinol sometimes treat gout by preventing the accumulation of uric acid Some people are born with xanthinuria and lack the ability to produce xanthine oxidase They have a high concentration of xanthine in their blood, which causes uric acid to build up in muscles and kidneys Therefore, the kidney will develop xanthine calculus, which may eventually lead to renal failure This is a rare disease that cannot be cured It is recommended that patients avoid foods containing too much purine and drink more water.