Tetramethyluric Acid

Applications Tetramethyluric acid is an impurity of caffeine. Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug and a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants. In humans, caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant, temporarily warding off drowsiness and restoring alertness. Caffeine is a cardiac and respiratory stimulant; diuretic. Caffeine is toxic at sufficiently high doses. References Zubair, U.M., et al.: Anal. Profiles Drug Subs., 15, 71 (1986); Cherrah, Y., et al.: Biochem. Pharmacol., 37, 1311 (1988);