THE PHARMACOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTIC LANDSCAPE OF COFFEA ARABICA: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
*Abera Haile Adello
Coffea arabica, a biological member of the Rubiaceae family, finds its definitive scientific origin in the Afromontane rainforests of the Kafa zone near Bonga, Ethiopia, which remains the definitive genetic cradle and reservoir of the species' highest allelic diversity (Arias-Suárez et al., 2025; Salojärvi et al., 2024). This evolutionary foundation gives rise to an intricate chemical matrix where caffeine acts as a potent adenosine receptor antagonist and trigonelline serves as a vital neuroprotective alkaloid and precursor to nicotinic acid (Makiso et al., 2023; Stoikidou & Koidis, 2023). Clinical and epidemiological data consistently link the habitual consumption of these bioactive compounds specifically chlorogenic acids (CGAs) to a 25–30% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes through the inhibition of α-glycosidase, alongside significant hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects against cirrhosis and neurodegenerative diseases (Mellbye et al., 2024; Nabavi et al., 2017). The therapeutic integrity of the beverage is further modulated by the Maillard reaction during roasting, which synthesizes antioxidant melanoidins, and by extraction kinetics that dictate gastrointestinal tolerability (Santoso et al., 2021; Yeager, 2021). However, the safety and authenticity of this functional food are threatened by the nephrotoxic mycotoxin Ochratoxin A and economic adulteration, necessitating the use of high-resolution FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy for purity verification (Fernando et al., 2023; Nuhu, 2015). Consequently, the integration of Ethiopian genomic preservation with precision phytochemistry remains the essential frontier for safeguarding the extensive medicinal profile of C. arabica.
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