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Theobroma cacao(cocoa) is a small (4–8 m or 15–26 ft tall) evergreen tree in the family Sterculiaceae, native to the deep tropical region of the Americas. Theobromine is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant, found in chocolate. It is in the methylxanthine clbum of chemical compounds, which also includes the similar compounds theophylline and caffeine.

Theobromine prolongs the effects of neurotransmitters and hormones secreted by the body, generally resulting in a stimulatory effect. It has a lesser impact on the human central nervous system than caffeine, but it stimulates the heart to a greater degree. However, although it increases heartbeat, it also dilates blood vessels, causing a reduced blood pressure.

Theobromine has been shown to have a cough-reducing effect superior to codeine; it has also been identified as one of the compounds contributing to chocolate’s reputed role as an aphrodisiac.