Theophylline

Theophylline (1,3-Dimethylxanthine) is a potent phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, adenosine receptor antagonist, and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activator. Theophylline (1,3-Dimethylxanthine) inhibits PDE3 activity to relax airway smooth muscle. Theophylline (1,3-Dimethylxanthine) has anti-inflammatory activity by increase IL-10 and inhibit NF-κB into the nucleus. Theophylline (1,3-Dimethylxanthine) induces apoptosis. Theophylline (1,3-Dimethylxanthine) can be used for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) research[1][2][3][4][5].

Product Specifications

CAS Number

[58-55-9]

Product Name Alternative

1,3-Dimethylxanthine; Theo-24

UNSPSC

12352005

Hazard Statement

H301

Target

Adenosine Receptor; Apoptosis; Endogenous Metabolite; HDAC; Interleukin Related; Phosphodiesterase (PDE) ; TNF Receptor

Type

Natural Products

Related Pathways

Apoptosis; Cell Cycle/DNA Damage; Epigenetics; GPCR/G Protein; Immunology/Inflammation; Metabolic Enzyme/Protease

Applications

Cancer-programmed cell death

Field of Research

Cancer; Infection; Neurological Disease; Inflammation/Immunology

Assay Protocol

https://www.medchemexpress.com/Theophylline.html

Concentration

10mM

Purity

99.95

Solubility

0.1 M NaOH : 20 mg/mL (ultrasonic; warming; adjust pH to 10 with 0.1 M NaOH; heat to 60°C) |DMSO : 11.11 mg/mL (ultrasonic) |H2O : 5 mg/mL (ultrasonic)

Smiles

O=C(N1C)N(C)C2=C(N=CN2)C1=O

Molecular Formula

C7H8N4O2

Molecular Weight

180.17

Precautions

H301

References & Citations

[1]Rabe KF, et, al. Theophylline and selective PDE inhibitors as bronchodilators and smooth muscle relaxants. Eur Respir J. 1995 Apr;8 (4) :637-42.|[2]Németh ZH, et, al. Amrinone and theophylline differentially regulate cytokine and nitric oxide production in endotoxemic mice. Shock. 1997 May;7 (5) :371-5.|[3]Ichiyama T, et, al. Theophylline inhibits NF-kappa B activation and I kappa B alpha degradation in human pulmonary epithelial cells. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2001 Dec;364 (6) :558-61.|[4]Ito K, et, al, Adcock IM, Barnes PJ. A molecular mechanism of action of theophylline: Induction of histone deacetylase activity to decrease inflammatory gene expression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Jun 25;99 (13) :8921-6.|[5]Barnes PJ. Theophylline. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Oct 15;188 (8) :901-6.

Shipping Conditions

Room Temperature

Storage Conditions

-20°C, 3 years; 4°C, 2 years (Powder)

Scientific Category

Natural Products

Clinical Information

Launched

Isoform

Human Endogenous Metabolite; IL-10; IL-6; PDE3

Citation 01

Cell Chem Biol. 2025 Sep 18;32 (9) :1140-1149.e3.|Cell Rep Med. 2023 Jun 20;4 (6) :101061.|Cell Rep Methods. 2023 Oct 23;3 (10) :100599.|Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2022 Sep;47 (5) :639-652.|Exp Brain Res. 2024 Aug;242 (8) :1983-1998.|Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 5;24 (2) :1019.|Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Mar 3;25 (5) :2947.|Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Nov 10;26 (22) :10883.|Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2020 Apr;8 (2) :e00575.|Research Square Preprint. 2020 Oct.|3 Biotech. 2025 Apr;15 (4) :72.|Biol Proced Online. 2025 Jun 16;27 (1) :21.