The document summarizes information about the coca plant, including its origins in South America, physical characteristics, cultivation, and use. Key points include:
- The coca plant is native to South America and its leaves have been chewed for over 8000 years for their stimulant properties.
- It contains the alkaloid cocaine and was used traditionally by indigenous peoples and is now used commercially in products like energy drinks and in the original Coca-Cola formula.
- While stimulating in low doses, cocaine can be highly addictive and cause health effects with prolonged use like paranoia and increased risk of stroke.
2. INTRODUCTON
Coca is plant in the Erythroxylanaceae native to western south America.
The coco plant grows to a height of 2 to 3 meters.
The branches are straight and the leaves are thin,opaque and oval.
Leaves are areolated.
FLOWER
The flowers are small and disposed in clusters on short stalks.
The corolla is composed of 5 petals.
FRUITS
The fruits are in the form of berries.
The color of the berries is red.
4. HISTORY
Traces of coca leaves are found in northern Peru dates the commercial
chewing with lime 8000 years back.
Other evidence pf coca traces are found in Mummies dating 3000 years back
in Chile.
Coca chewing was originally been limited to the Andes
The plant was believed having divine qualities and the cultivation became a
subject of state monopoly of the king of Inca.
It was only after the decline of Inca kingdom the plant become available to
the common public.
Coca was first introduced in Europe in 16th century but did not become
popular until mid 19th century with publication of an influential paper by
Dr.Poalo.
5. CONTINED
3000 BC- leaves are chewed throughout the s.America, coca believed to be a
gift of God.
1708 AD – Coca first mentioned in Meteria medica.
1850 – coca tincture used in throat surgery.
1855 – Cocaine extracted from coca leaves for the first time.
1884 – Used as local anesthetic in eye surgery.
6. CONTINUED
1886 – Cocaine introduced in newly launched soft drink – coca cola
1901 – cocaine removed form coca cola
1905 – Snorting cocaine in the form of powder became popular.
!912 – U.S Govt reported 5000 death in 1 yr. due cocaine.
1914 – Cocaine banned in U..S
10. GEORAPHICAL SOURCE
The plant is found in entire region covered by the Andes
mountain range.
The countries falling under this range are-
1. ARGENTINA
2. BOLIVIA
3. CHILE
4. COLUMBIA
5. ECUADOR
6. PERU And
7. VENEZUELA
13. DESCRITION
COLOUR - Leaves are green, berries are red and flowers are white.
ODOUR - Characteristics
TASTE - Bitter
SIZE - 2-3 cm wide and 3-11 cm wide
SHAPE - Oval
14. CULTIVATION
Cultivated at an altitude of 500-2000 m
Propagation is done by sowing the seeds in nursery beds.
Transplantation is done when the seedlings reach an height of 15-20 cm.
The transplantation is done in the slopes of the mountains, where water
cannot log.
The drug is isolated from the leaves of the plant.
The leaves are collected over a period of 3 years.
16. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENT
The drug contain 0.7 – 1.5% of total Alkaloid.
The majority are tropane esters like -
1. COCAINE
2. ECGONINE
3. BENZOYL ECGONINE
4. SENAMOLE ECGONINE
17.
18. P0HARMACOLOGY
Desensitizes the terminal nerve on local application.
When taken i.v or inhaled stimulates the cerebral
cortex.
METABOLISM
Site – Liver
Half life – 30-90min.
