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Effects Of Caffeine On Hormones And Hormones

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Caffeine Intro Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid compound and is commonly consumed for its stimulating effects (toxicology). It is extracted from plants and is the end product of nitrogen metabolism, which is why it is classified as an alkaloid. This compound is found in popular beverages such as coffee and tea, which are consumed for the effects caused by caffeine, most notably the short-term ability to keep people awake. History Both coffee and tea’s discovery occurred before the discovery of the chemical responsible for their effects; caffeine. Both of their discoveries can be traced to legends speaking of their accidental consumption; coffee in 850 by goats owned by the Ethiopian farmer Kaldi, and tea in 2737 BCE by the Chinese emperor Shen Nung. Caffeine was later isolated in 1819 by Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge. Although it was Runge that isolated the compound, it was Emil Fischer that first determined its structure in the 1890’s and was later able to synthesize the compound in 1895 (organicchem). Today, it is the most used stimulant in the world (Toxicology). Caffeine Molecular formula: C8H10N4O2 IUPAC Name: 1,3,7- trimethylpurine- 2,6-dione Molecular Mass: 194.1906 g/mol Molecular Structure: How does it work? Caffeine is a central nervous stimulant that is mainly consumed to increase alertness and prevent drowsiness. Its molecular structure is similar to that of adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that slows down nerve cell (or neuron) activity by binding to

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