ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)2016
Structure-Bioactivity Relationships of Methylxanthines: Trying to Make Sense of All the Promises and the Drawbacks.
Review in Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 72 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
72 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 170 citations in OpenAlex.
- Methylxanthine for the prevention and treatment of apnea in preterm infants.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Coffee and caffeine intake and male infertility: a systematic review.Nutrition journal · 2017Pooled it
- Decoding the bioactive peptides and metabolic fingerprints of whey derived from dairy fan processing by-products.Food chemistry: X · 2026Article
- Exploratory integrative analysis of infant gut microbiome and metabolome suggests diet- and microbiome-derived metabolites associated with childhood asthma.Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society · 2026Article
- Association of central α-klotho with dopaminergic and melanocortin receptors on feed intake regulation in chicken.Poultry science · 2026Article
- Methylxanthine Content in Green Tea Supplements: UHPLC Quantification, Method Validation, and Implications for Ergogenic Dosing in Athletes.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Application of In Silico QSAR and Molecular Docking Studies to a Series of Xanthine-Based Analogues and Design, Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of Identified New Potential Selective MAO-B Inhibitors.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Paraxanthine and azilsartan attenuate gentamicin-induced renal fibrosis via modulation of TGF-β1/Smad3/7 signaling and miRNA-21/miRNA-200b expression.Journal of translational medicine · 2026Article
- Cocoa Bean Shell as a Functional Food By-Product: Antioxidant Potential and Toxicological Thresholds inFood science & nutrition · 2026Article
- Article
- Animal Dietary Exposure to Methylxanthines through the Inclusion of Former Food Products (FFPs) in Feed.ACS agricultural science & technology · 2026Article
- Elevated Salivary Theobromine and Long-Term Improvement of Periodontal Health in Two Cohort Studies.Journal of clinical periodontology · 2026Article
- Inhibition of Retinal AdoRA2a Activity Attenuates Myopia Progression.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2026Article
- Habitual tea consumption is associated with a low prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in a Taiwanese population study.International journal of medical sciences · 2026Article
- Article
- Unlocking the Alkaloid Biological Potential of Chili Pepper (Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Effects of Dimenhydrinate on Motor Behavior and Vascular Function: Possible Implications for the Field of Sports.Drug testing and analysis · 2025Article
- Studies on the synthesis, crystal structures, biological activities and molecular docking of novel natural methylxanthine derivatives containing piperazine moiety.Molecular diversity · 2025Article
- The psychostimulant drug, fenethylline (captagon): Health risks, addiction and the global impact of illicit trade.Drug and alcohol dependence reports · 2025Review
- Association of dietary intake of theobromine with periodontitis: NHANES 2009-2014.BMC oral health · 2025Article
12 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Methylxanthines are a group of phytochemicals derived from the purine base xanthine and obtained from plant secondary metabolism. They are unobtrusively included in daily diet in common products as coffee, tea, energetic drinks, or chocolate. Caffeine is by far the most studied methylxanthine either in animal or epidemiologic studies. Theophylline and theobromine are other relevant methylxanthines also commonly available in the aforementioned sources. There are many disseminated myths about methylxanthines but there is increased scientific knowledge to discuss all the controversy and promise shown by these intriguing phytochemicals. In fact, many beneficial physiologic outcomes have been suggested for methylxanthines in areas as important and diverse as neurodegenerative and respiratory diseases, diabetes or cancer. However, there have always been toxicity concerns with methylxanthine (over)consumption and pharmacologic applications. Herein, we explore the structure-bioactivity relationships to bring light those enumerated effects. The potential shown by methylxanthines in such a wide range of conditions should substantiate many other scientific endeavors that may highlight their adequacy as adjuvant therapy agents and may contribute to the advent of functional foods. Newly designed targeted molecules based on methylxanthine structure may originate more specific and effective outcomes.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.