

However, caffeine is an achiral molecule, and therefore has no stereoisomers. Some yerba mate enthusiasts assert that mateine is a stereoisomer of caffeine, which would make it a different substance altogether. Two of caffeine's alternative names, mateine and guaranine, are derived from the names of these plants.

Other, less commonly used, sources of caffeine include the yerba mate and guarana plants, which are sometimes used in the preparation of teas and energy drinks. The most commonly used caffeine-containing plants are coffee, tea, and to a lesser extent cocoa. It is therefore understood that caffeine has a natural function in both a natural pesticide and as an inhibitor of seed germination of other nearby coffee seedlings thus giving it a better chance of survival. High caffeine levels have also been found in the surrounding soil of coffee bean seedlings. 7.1 Relative content: comparison of different sourcesĬaffeine is a plant alkaloid, found in many plant species, where it acts as a natural pesticide with high caffeine levels being reported in seedlings that are still developing foliages, but are lacking mechanical protection caffeine paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding upon the plant.5.3 Extraction by nonhazardous organic solvents.5.2 Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.Food and Drug Administration lists caffeine as a "Multiple Purpose Generally Recognized as Safe Food Substance". In North America, 90% of adults consume caffeine daily. Beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks enjoy great popularity caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance, but unlike most other psychoactive substances, it is legal and unregulated in nearly all jurisdictions. In humans, caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, having the effect of temporarily warding off drowsiness and restoring alertness. Other sources include yerba mate, guarana berries, and the Yaupon Holly. It is most commonly consumed by humans in infusions extracted from the beans of the coffee plant and the leaves of the tea bush, as well as from various foods and drinks containing products derived from the kola nut or from cacao. Caffeine is also called guaranine when found in guarana, mateine when found in mate, and theine when found in tea all of these names are synonyms for the same chemical compound.Ĭaffeine is found in varying quantities in the beans, leaves, and fruit of over 60 plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants. The word comes from the French term for coffee, café. It is a xanthine alkaloid compound that acts as a psychoactive stimulant and diuretic in humans. Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 ☌, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and referencesĬaffeine is a stimulant drug.
