An ingredient in chocolate could be used to stop persistent coughs and lead to more effective medicines, researchers say. The study found that theobromine, found in cocoa, was nearly a third more effective in stopping persistent coughs than codeine, currently considered the best cough medicine

    ingredient n.成分　theobromine n.可可堿　cocoa n.可可粉　codeine n.可待因

    The researchers, from Imperial College London (ICL), said the discovery could lead to more effective cough treatments. Ten healthy volunteers were either given theobromine, codeine or a dummy pill during the trial, which also involved Royal Brompton Hospital and St Bartholomew's Hospital.

    treatment n. 治療　volunteer n. 誌願者

    The researchers, writing in the online FASEB Journal, said that theobromine worked by suppressing vagus nerve activity, which is responsible for causing coughing. They also found that unlike standard cough treatments, theobromine caused no adverse effects on the cardiovascular or central nervous systems, such as drowsiness.

    vagus nerve 迷走神經　adverse effect 反作用
、副作用　

    cardiovascular adj. 心髒血管的　drowsiness n. 睡意

    輔助閱讀：

    倫敦帝國學院的科學家發現，巧克力中含有的可可堿成分的止咳效果優於常用止咳藥可待因30%以上。從事該研究的彼得·巴內斯教授認為，此發現有望改進現在普遍采用的止咳方法。 

    科學家們讓10位誌願者分別服用了可可堿
、kedaiyinhuozheanweiji。weilejianyanshangshusanzhongwuzhidezuoyong
，yanjiurenyuanrangzhiyuanzhexirulekeyiyoufakesoudelajiaosu。tongguoduilajiaosushuipingjinxingfenxi
，yanjiurenyuanfaxian
，fuyongkekejiandezhiyuanzheyufuyonganweijidezhiyuanzhexiangbi
，qianzheyaoxirunongdugaosanfenzhiyidelajiaosucainengyinfakesou；服(fu)用(yong)可(ke)待(dai)因(yin)的(de)誌(zhi)願(yuan)者(zhe)與(yu)服(fu)用(yong)安(an)慰(wei)劑(ji)的(de)誌(zhi)願(yuan)者(zhe)相(xiang)比(bi)，前(qian)者(zhe)需(xu)要(yao)吸(xi)入(ru)的(de)辣(la)椒(jiao)素(su)濃(nong)度(du)要(yao)稍(shao)高(gao)於(yu)後(hou)者(zhe)即(ji)可(ke)引(yin)發(fa)咳(ke)嗽(sou)。研(yan)究(jiu)者(zhe)還(hai)表(biao)示(shi)
，與(yu)通(tong)常(chang)的(de)止(zhi)咳(ke)方(fang)法(fa)不(bu)同(tong)，可(ke)可(ke)堿(jian)對(dui)心(xin)血(xue)管(guan)和(he)中(zhong)樞(shu)神(shen)經(jing)係(xi)統(tong)不(bu)會(hui)產(chan)生(sheng)任(ren)何(he)副(fu)作(zuo)用(yong)。