theophylline
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.
Origin of theophylline
1Words Nearby theophylline
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use theophylline in a sentence
To identify cacao, the researchers searched for theophylline, a compound found in trace amounts in the plant.
In Maya society, cacao use was for everyone, not just royals | Richard Kemeny | September 26, 2022 | Science NewsCaffeine, theophylline, and theobromine are not found in animal tissues, but are fairly widely distributed in plants.
The Chemistry of Plant Life | Roscoe Wilfred Thatcher
British Dictionary definitions for theophylline
/ (ˌθɪəˈfɪliːn, -ɪn, θɪˈɒfɪlɪn) /
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 2: See also xanthine (def. 2)
Origin of theophylline
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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