Brno University of Technology Faculty of Chemistry
Chemistry of Chocolate
2005
Iveta Češková Monika Maxová
“FEEL GOOD“ FOOD CHOCOLATE • virtually universal appeal • contains more than 300 known chemicals • the taste is partially determined by the chemistry of the product. virtually – prakticky (skoro), téměř
appeal – půvab, přitažlivost
Food of the gods • made from seeds of tropical cacao tree,
Theobroma cacao
• cocoa beans contain variety of chemicals seed – semeno,osévat
Typical Chocolate Ingredients
The Psychoactive Cocktail
Compound
Amount (%W/W)
Neurotransmitters: Serotonin
0.62 - 5.82
Histamine
0.04 - 0.13
Methylxanthines: Theobromine
<1.3
Caffeine
<1.0
Tetrahydroisoquinolines: Salsolinol
High
Methyltetrahydroisoquinoline
<0.01
Amines:
The combination of these chemicals may provide the „lift“ that chocolate eaters experience.
Phenylethylamine
0.02 - 2.20
Tele-methylhistamine
0.01 - 1.54
Spermidine
0.05 - 1.15
p-tyramine
0.02 - 0.35
3-methyloxytyramine
0.02 - 0.33
Tryptamine
0.03 - 0.18
Spermine
0.00 - 0.13
lift – (po)zvednutí, podpora
Structure of Theobromine and Caffeine
red-oxygen blue-nitrogen white-hydrogen
Theobromine and Caffeine • belongs to a class of alkaloid molecules known as methylxanthines • caffeine can be found in small quantities (<1%) • 800 g of milk chocolate contains the equivalent amount of caffeine present in a cup of coffee • theobromine, a weak stimulant, is present in slightly higher amounts (about 1% of total weight) • also present in cola nuts and in tea • levels are higher in dark chocos (approximately 10 g/kg) than in milk chocos (1-5 g/kg)
Chemistry of Theobromine C 46.67 % H 4.48 % N 31.10 % O 17.76 % NAME :
Theobromine
CHEMICAL NAME :
3,7-Dihydro-3,7-dimethyle-1H-prine-2,6-dione
ALTERNATE CHEMICAL NAMES :
3,7-dimethylxanthine
CHEMICAL FORMULA :
C7H8N4O2
MOLECULAR WEIGHT :
180.17
Theobromine • • • •
mildly diuretic (increases urine production) ability to dilate blood vessels – treat high blood pressure relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchi in the lungs is halved between 6 -10 hours after consumption (in the human body) • may be toxic or lethal to dogs and other domestic animals (metabolize theobromine more slowly!)
diuretic - močopudný
smooth - hladký
lungs - plíce
dilate – rozšířit (se)
bronchi - průdušky
halve - rozložit
vessel - céva
Anandamide ( N-arachidonoylethanolamine ) • • • •
neurotransmitter is stored in the cell membrane in the form of a phospholipid precursor is broken down quickly after it´s produced activates the same cell membrane receptors as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana and hashis • it may play important roles in the regulation of mood, memory, appetite and pain perception • act as the chief component of a novel system involved in the control of cognition and emotion • inhibit the breakdown of natural anandamide, which may stick around longer, making us feel good longer, when we eat choco cognition – vědomí
stick around longer - prodlužovat
Phenolics • antioxidants • one “square” of milk chocolate contains almost the same amount of phenols as a glass of red wine and that plain, dark chocolate contains even higher amounts • prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) into the “bad” fats that clog up coronary arteries and cause heart disease • the “good” high-density lipoproteins are believed to scavenge excess cholesterol from the bloodstream to the liver for excretion clog up – ucpat scavenge excess – odklízet nadbytek
liver - játra bloodstream – krevní řečiště
LOVE CHEMICAL Phenylethylamine (PEA) • • • •
chocolate´s key ingredient is related to amphetamines raises blood preasure and blood glucose levels makes us feel alert and gives us a sense of well-being alert – bdělý, čilý well-being – pohoda, pocit zdraví
note: chocolate is rich source of magnesium
Our Inspiration: www.erowid.org www.exploratorum.edu www.chemsoc.org www.immunesupport.com www.chocolate.org
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