theophylline
[thee-uh-fil-een, -in]
- a white, crystalline, poisonous alkaloid, C7H8N4O2, an isomer of theobromine, extracted from tea leaves or produced synthetically: used to relieve bronchial spasms, in the treatment of certain heart conditions, and as a diuretic.
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Origin of theophylline
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for theophylline
Historical Examples
Caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine are not found in animal tissues, but are fairly widely distributed in plants.
The Chemistry of Plant LifeRoscoe Wilfred Thatcher
theophylline
- a white crystalline slightly water-soluble alkaloid that is an isomer of theobromine: it occurs in plants, such as tea, and is used to treat asthma. Formula: C 7 H 8 N 4 O 2See also xanthine (def. 2)
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Word Origin
C19: from theo (bromine) + phyllo- + -ine ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
theophylline
(thē-ŏf′ə-lĭn, thē′ō-fĭl′ēn′)- A colorless crystalline alkaloid derived from tea leaves or made synthetically, used as a cardiac stimulant and diuretic.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
theophylline
[thē-ŏf′ə-lĭn]
- A colorless, crystalline alkaloid derived from tea leaves or made synthetically. It is used in medicine especially as a bronchial dilator. Theophylline is a xanthine that is similar in structure to caffeine and is a structural isomer of theobromine. Chemical formula: C7H8N4O2.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.