Caffeine and theobromine in epicuticular wax of Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.

Caffeine and theobromine were identified and quantified in leaf epicuticular waxes of Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil. (Aquifoliaceae). The total epicuticular leaf wax content was ca. 0.5% on average of dry leaf weight. Epicuticular caffeine and theobromine contents varied from 0.16 to 127.6 mug/mg and from 0 to 9.5 mug/mg of wax. A poisitive correlation was found between inner and epicuticular caffeine contents. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Lt. All rights reserved.