Theophylline

Purine alkaloid, naturally found in tea, structurally similar to caffeine. It is used as a bronchodilator drug that relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchi, allowing air to flow more easily into the lungs, making breathing easier. Additionally, this drug improves the movement of mucus in the bronchi, making coughing easier. Theophylline also affects the smooth muscles of blood vessels, bile ducts, and digestive organs. It stimulates the respiratory center and heart activity, strengthens the contractions of the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles, increases urine output, prevents relaxation, and counteracts some allergic reaction mediators.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė