In addition, high concentrations of caffeine (>5 mM) can have toxic effects on the plant itself and affect seed germination. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of caffeine may reduce the catabolism of caffeine in soil, prolonging its retention time and increasing its accumulation. However, the extent to which caffeine is involved in allelopathy is still unclear since soil contains microorganisms that can metabolize a great deal of caffeine, and some caffeine may be also degraded by soil bacteria.

A previous study showed that mature coffee trees produce about 150–200 g (dry weight)/m 2/year of litter, which releases about 1–2 g caffeine/m 2/year into the soil. However, mature plant litter can also release caffeine into the surrounding environment, eventually affecting the environment. Īllelopathy refers to the effects of caffeine released by plants on neighboring plant seeds and seedlings. Caffeine can promote skin blood microcirculation, prevent fat accumulation, and provide antioxidant benefits. Apart from these applications, the cosmetics industry has also developed caffeine-based products for weight loss and beauty care.

Moreover, caffeine has been identified as a potential biomarker for disease detection, especially in the case of Parkinson’s disease. In the medical field, caffeine is primarily used as a stimulant and an analgesic adjuvant. Numerous studies have shown that moderate caffeine consumption can obviously promote diuresis, improve memory, increase anticancer effects, decrease blood pressure, lower the risks of type 2 diabetes, and delay aging. Not only does it significantly improve the taste of food, but it also can alleviate fatigue and improve sustained attention.

In the food industry, caffeine is used as a natural additive in various products, such as chocolate, tea, and cola.

Theobromine vs caffeine structure