Theophylline

**Definition:** A methyl xanthine derivative from tea with diuretic, smooth muscle relaxant, bronchial dilation, cardiac and central nervous system stimulant activities. Theophylline inhibits the 3',5'-CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHODIESTERASE that degrades CYCLIC AMP thus potentiates the actions of agents that act through ADENYLYL CYCLASES and cyclic AMP.

**Tree numbers:** - D03.132.960.751 - D03.633.100.759.758.824.751

**Synonyms:** - 3,7-Dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione - 1,3-Dimethylxanthine