Chemistry of Chocolate

Iveta Češková

Monika Maxová

Brno University of TechnologyFaculty of Chemistry

2005

“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:  

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

The combination of these chemicals may provide the „lift“ that chocolate

eaters experience. 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)

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

Chemistry ofTheobromine

C 46.67 % H 4.48 %N 31.10 % O 17.76 %

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

• 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

( N-arachidonoylethanolamine)

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 liver - játrascavenge excess – odklízet nadbytek bloodstream – krevní řečiště

LOVE CHEMICAL

• 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

Phenylethylamine (PEA)

note: chocolate is rich source of magnesium

Our Inspiration:

www.erowid.org

www.exploratorum.edu

www.chemsoc.org

www.immunesupport.com

www.chocolate.org

Thank you for your attention

THIS IS THE END