It also has a role a ryanodine receptor modulator, a ryanodine receptor agonist, a fungal metabolite, an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, a psychotropic drug, a diuretic, a food additive, an adjuvant, a plant metabolite, an environmental contaminant, a xenobiotic, a human blood serum metabolite, a mouse metabolite and a mutagen.
Caffeine may boost weight loss or prevent weight gain, possibly by:
*suppressing the appetite and temporarily reducing the desire to eat
*stimulating thermogenesis, so the body generates more heat and energy from digesting food
Its natural sources include coffee beans, guarana, cocoa, tea etc. It occurs as a white powder with a bitter taste but odorless. Decaffeinated cola and soft drinks contain no caffeine, but decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free.
It has a density of 1.2g/cm3 with a volatility of 0.5% and a vapour pressure of 101kPa at 178°C. It has an almost a neutral pH of 6.9 and a water solubility of 2.17%. Caffeine has a boiling point of 178°C and a melting point of 238°C.
Properties
of caffeine
