Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
Caffeine (1, 3, 5-trimethyl-3-7dihydro-purine-2,6-dione caffeine) being one of the most widely consumed psychoactive drug is both legal and unregulated unlike other psychoactive compounds in nearly all parts of the world including Nigeria, thus quantitative caffeine determination is important. In this study, the levels of caffeine in three species of Cola; Cola accuminata, Cola garcina, and Cola nitida found in the Nigerian were determined. The levels of caffeine in Cola accuminata, Cola garcina and Cola nitida showed varying percentage compositions 4.7%, 0.6% and 2.4% respectively. This observation is strictly regulated by various factors, ranging from environmental, climatic, soil type to genetic. The significance of this work is to establish quantitatively the caffeine content as is being influenced by factors like the environmental, climatic, soil type and genetics as it plays important role on the health its consumers.

Keywords: cola acuminata, cola garcina, and cola nitida, caffeine and alkaloids

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