7-Methylxanthine (7-MX), also known as heteroxanthine, is an active metabolite of caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) and theobromine (3,7-dimethylxanthine).[1][2] It is a non-selective antagonist of the adenosine receptors.[1][2] The compound may slow the progression of myopia (nearsightedness).[1][2] It is under investigation for this purpose in children with myopia.[1][2]

7-Methylxanthine
Clinical data
Other names7-MX; 7-Methylxanthin; Heteroxanthin; Heteroxanthine; NSC-7861
Identifiers
  • 7-methyl-3H-purine-2,6-dione
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.008.200 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC6H6N4O2
Molar mass166.140 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • CN1C=NC2=C1C(=O)NC(=O)N2
  • InChI=1S/C6H6N4O2/c1-10-2-7-4-3(10)5(11)9-6(12)8-4/h2H,1H3,(H2,8,9,11,12)
  • Key:PFWLFWPASULGAN-UHFFFAOYSA-N

It is shown that systemic treatment with 7-MX appears to be efficient in retarding axial elongation and myopia progression among myopic children. The treatment is safe and without side effects, and may be continued until 18–20 years of age, when age-related cross-linking of collagen prevents further elongation of the eye.[3] Additionally, further studies show that oral intake of 7-MX was associated with reduced myopia progression and reduced axial elongation in this sample of myopic children from Denmark. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether the association is causal.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "7-Methylxanthine". Inxight Drugs. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Singh H, Singh H, Latief U, Tung GK, Shahtaghi NR, Sahajpal NS, et al. (August 2022). "Myopia, its prevalence, current therapeutic strategy and recent developments: A Review". Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 70 (8): 2788–2799. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_2415_21. PMC 9672758. PMID 35918918. S2CID 251281523.
  3. ^ Trier K, Munk Ribel-Madsen S, Cui D, Brøgger Christensen S (December 2008). "Systemic 7-methylxanthine in retarding axial eye growth and myopia progression: a 36-month pilot study". Journal of Ocular Biology, Diseases, and Informatics. 1 (2–4): 85–93. doi:10.1007/s12177-008-9013-3. PMC 2802512. PMID 20072638.
  4. ^ Trier K, Cui D, Ribel-Madsen S, Guggenheim J (August 2022). "Oral administration of caffeine metabolite 7-methylxanthine is associated with slowed myopia progression in Danish children". The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 107 (10): bjophthalmol–2021–320920. doi:10.1136/bjo-2021-320920. PMID 35995571. S2CID 251742114.