MOLECULE

Xanthine

Xanthine, also known as Xan or 2,6-dioxopurine, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as xanthines. These are purine derivatives with a ketone group conjugated at carbons 2 and 6 of the purine moiety. An oxopurine in which the purine ring is substituted by oxo groups at positions 2 and 6 and N-9 is protonated. Xanthine is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). Xanthine exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans. Within humans, xanthine participates in a number of enzymatic reactions. In particular, xanthine can be biosynthesized from guanine; which is mediated by the enzyme guanine deaminase. In addition, xanthine and ribose 1-phosphate can be biosynthesized from xanthosine through the action of the enzyme purine nucleoside phosphorylase. In humans, xanthine is involved in azathioprine action pathway. Xanthine is a potentially toxic compound. Xanthine, with regard to humans, has been found to be associated with several diseases such as hydrocephalus, adenosine kinase deficiency, xanthinuria type II, and eosinophilic esophagitis; xanthine has also been linked to the inborn metabolic disorder lesch-nyhan syndrome. Xanthine is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.