Kahweol is a diterpenoid molecule found in the beans of Coffea arabica. It is structurally related to cafestol. It gets its name from the Arabic word "Ka-ah-wa", from which "coffee" derives. In French, it's evolved into the slang word "kawa", to designate coffee.

Recent research suggests that kahweol may have beneficial effects on bone by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation.[1] Another recent study confirmed that kahweol has anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects, offering a possible mechanism for the association found in epidemiological studies between consumption of unfiltered coffee and decreased risk of cancer.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Fumimoto R, Sakai E, Yamaguchi Y, Sakamoto H, Fukuma Y, Nishishita K, Okamoto K, Tsukuba T (Mar 2012). "The Coffee Diterpene Kahweol Prevents Osteoclastogenesis via Impairment of NFATc1 Expression and Blocking of Erk Phosphorylation". J Pharmacol Sci. 118 (4): 479–86. doi:10.1254/jphs.11212FP. PMID 22447306.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  2. ^ Cárdenas C, Quesada AR, Medina MA (Aug 2011). "Anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of kahweol, a coffee diterpene". PLOS ONE. 6 (8): e23407. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...623407C. doi:10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0023407. PMC 3153489. PMID 21858104.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link) open access