Xanthine:A substance found incaffeine, theobromine, and theophylline and encountered in tea,coffee, and the colas. Chemically,xanthineis apurine.
There is agenetic diseaseof xanthinemetabolism, xanthinuria, due to deficiency of an enzyme, xanthine dehydrogenase, needed to process xanthine in the body. Unchecked, xanthinuria can lead tokidney stoneformation andurinary tractdisease (due to xanthine stones) and to muscle disease (due to deposits of xanthine in the muscle). Treatment is by avoiding foods and drinks containing xanthine derivatives, such as coffee, tea, and colas.
The name "xanthine" was taken from the Greek "xanqos" meaning yellow +quininesince it forms yellow salts and its solution forms a blue fluorescence as does quinine.
