Embedded Files
Coca
Toxicity
Toxicity
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms: Accelerated heart, accelerated respiration, addiction, aggressiveness, anhedonia, cardiac arrhythmia, central nervous system toxicity, chest pain, difficulty with muscle movement, disorientation, dizziness, euphoria, hallucinations, hypertension, hyperthermia, increased alertness, lethargy, psychosis, seizures, vasoconstriction.
Duration of Symptoms: Up to 24 hours
Rate of Poison: Minutes
Causes Death: Yes
Treatment: Aspirin, benzodiazepines, nitrate, phentolamine.
The alkaloids (chemical components) in this plant are responsible for the production of one of the more notorious drugs in North America, cocaine. Cocaine is produced naturally in this plant, where drug dealers extract it in its natural form, purify it, then sell it on the black market. Native Americans have chewed the leaves from the coca plant as sort of a "caffeine" boost.
Photo: H. Zell - Wikimedia Commons
License: Creative Commons Share-Alike 3.0
Toxins
Toxins
Molecular structure of cocaine - PubChem
Cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a basic tropane alkaloid found in the coca plant that is used as a stimulant when isolated from the plant. It is typically injected, snorted, or used orally. It can be prepared in free base form or as a hydrochloride salt. Cocaine binds to the membrane-bound proteins that control the voltage-gated ion channels, receptors (muscarinic and sigma), and transporters (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine). These three components allows cocaine to be able to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the "fight or flight" response). This causes the inhibition of the reuptake of neurotransmitters in the synapse. Neurotransmitters that are blocked are dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. There are two major metabolites: benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester, which cause hypertension. A minor metabolite is norcocaine, which is responsible for causing vasoconstriction (constriction of blood vessels). Cocaine is also a type I antidysrhythmic agent as it acts as an antagonist to sodium channels.
Level of Toxin: 0.6% - 1.8% in the coca plant
Impacting Dosage: 20 - 50 mg. Lethal dose 30 mg - 1.2 g
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
Other Toxins and Chemical Components
Benzoyltropine
Benzoyltropine
Benzoyltropine inhibits the release of acetylcholine, depending on the dosage. Benzoyltropine also inhibits the sodium-dependent choline uptake.
Level of Toxin: Unknown
Impacting Dosage: Unknown
Hygrine
Hygrine
Hygrine is a type of chemical compound called a pyrrolidine alkaloid. It often serves as a starting material for creating other important compounds known as tropane alkaloids, such as cocaine.
Level of Toxin: 0.2% in leaves
Impacting Dosage: Unknown
Nicotine
Nicotine
Nicotine is a toxin that interacts with the central nervous system, acting as both a stimulant and a depressant. Nicotine releases adrenaline in the brain, stimulating the nervous system inducing pleasure, eventually leading to addiction. Dopamine concentration is increased due to the stimulation by nicotine, which is also responsible for the increased dependency of nicotine. Nornicotine is a metabolite of nicotine, which means that it helps nicotine to become metabolized in the system. It helps with the breakdown of nicotine.
Level of Toxin: Unknown
Impacting Dosage: 50 - 60 mg
Tropacocaine
Tropacocaine
Tropacocaine inhibits sodium-dependent choline and noreepinephrine uptake at certain concentrations. It also inhibits the release of acetylcholine.
Level of Toxin: 0.04% in leaves
Impacting Dosage: Unknown
α- and β-Truxilline
I-Cocaine
Tropine
Cinnamoylcociane
Methylecgonidine
Cuscohygrine
Methylecgonine
Hygroline
Pseudotropine
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Leaves
Contact Hazard: None known
Animals Affected: Rats
*Large animals may ingest coca leaves without any effect.
Notes: The psychoactive alkaloid is one of the main sources for the semi-synthetic drug, cocaine. Cocaine is considered to be a Schedule II drug in the U.S. Detection of this drug may stay in the system around 3 - 10 days depending on the detection technique.
Medicinal Value
Medicinal Value
General Information
General Information
Parts of Plant: Leaves
Properties: Analgesic, anesthetic, aphrodisiac, astringent, tonic
Components: Cocaine
Antidote: Morphine addiction (1879)
Preparation: Injection, paste, powder, tea
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Treatments
Treatments
Boost Stamina
Depression
Sexual Impotence
Toothaches
Location
Location
Central America
Europe: Coca tonics and medicine
Inca: Used coca as a stimulant by placing the leaf between the cheek and the gum of the mouth (3000 BCE).
South America
Claimed Treatments
Claimed Treatments
Altitude Sickness
Asthma
Bowel Laxity Prevention
Broken Bones
Constipation: Coca leaf tea
Diarrhea: Coca leaf tea
Headaches
Improve Blood Vessels
Improve Digestion
Indigestion: Coca leaf tea
Intestinal Spasm: Coca leaf tea
Malaria
Nausea: Coca leaf tea
Nosebleeds: Seeds
Oral Issues: Coca softened or held in mouth.
Rheumatism
Sores
Stomach Pain: Coca leaf tea
Toothaches
Ulcers
Wounds
Location
Location
South America: Improve digestion; Prevent bowel laxity; Treat asthma, malaria, ulcers
Edibility
Edibility
Parts of Plant: Leaves, seeds
Nutrients:
Minerals: Calcium
Taste: Bitter
WARNING: Numbness may occur if consumed.
Historical Uses
Historical Uses
Current Uses
Current Uses
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
Chocolate
Coca-Cola: Contained cocaine in until 1903.
Tea: Leaves
Wine: Coca mixed with extract of kola nut with caffeine.
Preparation Methods
Preparation Methods
Candy: Nut extract used as flavouring
Tea: Mainly in some South American regions.
Wine: Leaves used to make coca wine.
General Facts
General Facts
Plant Facts
Plant Facts
Illustration of Coca by Franz Eugen Köhler - Wikimedia Commons
Family: Erythroxylaceae (Coca Family)
Genus: Erythroxylum
Other Names: Bolivian Coca, Huánuco Coca
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Bloom Colours: White-Yellowish
Bloom Time: March - November
Type: Perennial
Height: 5 - 6 feet
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Habitat: Forest clearings, hot environments, sides of hills.
Origin: South America
States: None known
Provinces: None known
*Coca plant mostly grows in South America.
Related Species
Related Species
Erythroxylum kapplerianum
(Kappler's Erythroxylum)
Photo: Vojtěch Zavadil - Wikimedia Commons
License: CCSA 3.0
Erythroxylum laurifolium
(Laurifolium Erythoxylum)
Photo: Christian Grenier - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Erythroxylum macrophyllum
(Big-Leaved Erythroxylum)
Photo: Reinaldo Aguilar - Flicker
License: NCSA 2.0
Erythroxylum monogynum
(Red Cedar)
Photo: Forestowlet - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Erythroxylum sideroxyloides
(Mauritius Erythroxylum)
Photo: Abu Shawka - Wikimedia Commons
License: Public Domain
Erythroxylum suberosum
(Flowers and Fruits Growing Out of the Trunk)
Photo: João Medeiros - Wikimedia Commons
License: CC 2.0
Other Species
Other Species
Erythroxylum acrobeles
Erythroxylum amazonicum
Erythroxylum anceps
Erythroxylum annamense
Erythroxylum armatum
Erythroxylum banaoense
Erythroxylum barbatum
Erythroxylum bicolor
Erythroxylum brennae
Erythroxylum calyptratum
Erythroxylum carajasense
Erythroxylum catharinense
Erythroxylum cogolloi
Erythroxylum cordato-ovatum
Erythroxylum cuneatum
Erythroxylum davidii
Erythroxylum dillonii
Erythroxylum domingense
Erythroxylum ellipticum
Erythroxylum firmum
Erythroxylum frangulifolium
Erythroxylum glaucum
Erythroxylum gracilipes
Erythroxylum guatemalense
Erythroxylum hildebrandtii
Erythroxylum hypoleucum
Erythroxylum jaimaicense
Erythroxylum lanceum
Erythroxylum leandrianum
Erythroxylum lindemanii
Erythroxylum longisetulosum
Erythroxylum macrocarpum
Erythroxylum mangorense
Erythroxylum marcophyllum
Erythroxylum microphyllum
Erythroxylum myrsinites
Erythroxylum nordestinum
Erythroxylum obtusifolium
Erythroxylum oreophilum
Erythroxylum oxypetalum
Erythroxylum paraguariense
Erythroxylum pauciflorum
Erythroxylum pervillei
Erythroxylum polygonoides
Erythroxylum pungens
Erythroxylum reticulatum
Erythroxylum rimosum
Erythroxylum roraimae
Erythroxylum rufum
Erythroxylum schomburgkii
Erythroxylum shatona
Erythroxylum socotranum
Erythroxylum spruceanum
Erythroxylum striiflorum
Erythroxylum subracemosum
Erythroxylum subumbellatum
Erythroxylum timothei
Erythroxylum umbrosum
Erythroxylum vaginatum
Erythroxylum williamsii
Erythroxylum acutum
Erythroxylum amplifolium
Erythroxylum andrei
Erythroxylum apiculatum
Erythroxylum arrojaoi
Erythroxylum bangii
Erythroxylum bequaertii
Erythroxylum bionense
Erythroxylum brevipes
Erythroxylum cambodianum
Erythroxylum carthagenense
Erythroxylum cincinnatum
Erythroxylum columbinum
Erythroxylum coriaceum
Erythroxylum cuneifolium
Erythroxylum dekindtii
Erythroxylum discolor
Erythroxylum dumosum
Erythroxylum engleri
Erythroxylum fischeri
Erythroxylum gaudichaudii
Erythroxylum glaziovii
Erythroxylum grandifolium
Erythroxylum hamigerum
Erythroxylum hondense
Erythroxylum impressum
Erythroxylum kochummenii
Erythroxylum lancifolium
Erythroxylum lenticellosum
Erythroxylum lineolatum
Erythroxylum loretense
Erythroxylum macrochaetum
Erythroxylum mannii
Erythroxylum mattos-silvae
Erythroxylum minutifolium
Erythroxylum myrtoides
Erythroxylum nossibeense
Erythroxylum occultum
Erythroxylum orinocense
Erythroxylum pachyneurum
Erythroxylum parvistipulatum
Erythroxylum pauferrense
Erythroxylum petrae-caballi
Erythroxylum popayanense
Erythroxylum pyan
Erythroxylum revolutum
Erythroxylum riparium
Erythroxylum rosuliferum
Erythroxylum ruryi
Erythroxylum schunkei
Erythroxylum simonis
Erythroxylum sparsiflorum
Erythroxylum stenopetalum
Erythroxylum striolatum
Erythroxylum subrotundum
Erythroxylum tapacuranum
Erythroxylum truxillense
Erythroxylum umbu
Erythroxylum vasquezii
Erythroxylum xerophilum
Erythroxylum affine
Erythroxylum amplum
Erythroxylum angelicae
Erythroxylum areolatum
Erythroxylum ayrtonianum
Erythroxylum badium
Erythroxylum betulaceum
Erythroxylum boivinianum
Erythroxylum buxifolium
Erythroxylum campestre
Erythroxylum cassinoides
Erythroxylum clarense
Erythroxylum compressum
Erythroxylum corymbosum
Erythroxylum cuspidifolium
Erythroxylum delagoense
Erythroxylum distortum
Erythroxylum ecarinatum
Erythroxylum ferrugineum
Erythroxylum flavicans
Erythroxylum gentryi
Erythroxylum gonoclados
Erythroxylum grisebachii
Erythroxylum haughtii
Erythroxylum horridum
Erythroxylum incrassatum
Erythroxylum laetevirens
Erythroxylum laurel
Erythroxylum leptoneurum
Erythroxylum loefgrenii
Erythroxylum lygoides
Erythroxylum magnoliifolium
Erythroxylum maracasense
Erythroxylum membranaceum
Erythroxylum mocquerysii
Erythroxylum nelson-rosae
Erythroxylum novocaledonicum
Erythroxylum ochranthum
Erythroxylum ovalifolium
Erythroxylum pacificum
Erythroxylum passerinum
Erythroxylum pedicellare
Erythroxylum platyclados
Erythroxylum pruinosum
Erythroxylum pyrifolium
Erythroxylum rhodappendiculatum
Erythroxylum riverae
Erythroxylum rotundifolium
Erythroxylum santosii
Erythroxylum sechellarum
Erythroxylum sinense
Erythroxylum sphaeranthum
Erythroxylum steyermarkii
Erythroxylum strobilaceum
Erythroxylum subsessile
Erythroxylum tenue
Erythroxylum tucuruiense
Erythroxylum undulatum
Erythroxylum vernicosum
Erythroxylum zambesiacum
Erythroxylum alaternifolium
Erythroxylum ampullaceum
Erythroxylum anguifugum
Erythroxylum argentinum
Erythroxylum baracoense
Erythroxylum bezerrae
Erythroxylum bradeanum
Erythroxylum buxus
Erythroxylum caatingae
Erythroxylum campinense
Erythroxylum cataractarum
Erythroxylum coelophlebium
Erythroxylum confusum
Erythroxylum couveleense
Erythroxylum daphnites
Erythroxylum densum
Erythroxylum divaricatum
Erythroxylum elegans
Erythroxylum fimbriatum
Erythroxylum foetidum
Erythroxylum gerrardii
Erythroxylum gracile
Erythroxylum guanchezii
Erythroxylum havanense
Erythroxylum hypericifolium
Erythroxylum jaimei
Erythroxylum lanceolatum
Erythroxylum leal-costae
Erythroxylum ligustrinum
Erythroxylum longipes
Erythroxylum macrocalyx
Erythroxylum mamacoca
Erythroxylum marcocarpum
Erythroxylum mexicanum
Erythroxylum mogotense
Erythroxylum nitidulum
Erythroxylum nummularia
Erythroxylum opacum
Erythroxylum oxycarpum
Erythroxylum panamense
Erythroxylum patentissimum
Erythroxylum pelleterianum
Erythroxylum plowmanianum
Erythroxylum pulchrum
Erythroxylum raimondi
Erythroxylum rignyanum
Erythroxylum roigii
Erythroxylum rudzie
Erythroxylum sarawakanum
Erythroxylum seyrigi
Erythroxylum sobraleanum
Erythroxylum splendidum
Erythroxylum stipulosum
Erythroxylum subglaucenses
Erythroxylum substriatum
Erythroxylum tianguanum
Erythroxylum ulei
Erythroxylum urbanii
Erythroxylum virgultosum
Erythroxylum zeylanicum
Sources
Sources
Toxicity Section
Toxicity Section
Biondich, A. S., & Joslin, J. D. (2016). Coca: the history and medical significance of an ancient Andean tradition. Emergency medicine international, 2016. From https://www.hindawi.com/journals/emi/2016/4048764/
Goldstein, R. A., DesLauriers, C., Burda, A., & Johnson-Arbor, K. (2009, February). Cocaine: history, social implications, and toxicity: a review. In Seminars in diagnostic pathology (Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 10-17). WB Saunders. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0740257008001123
Johnson, E. L. (1995). Content and distribution of Erythroxylum coca leaf alkaloids. Annals of botany, 76(4), 331-335. From https://www.jstor.org/stable/42764631
Kumar, C. D., Anitha, S., & Rao, P. V. D. M. (2019). Evaluation of Potential Phytochemicals and Phyto Pharmacological Activities of Erythroxylum monogynum Roxb. Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia, 16(2), 441. From https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ca6e/169d9e1639a1ecc4ca736ad7299f411db953.pdf
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp.86-88)
Leffel, T. (n.d.) The Coca Plant Paradox A Simple Little Leaf with a Complicated History in South America. Transitions Abroad. From https://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0605/the_coca_plant_paradox.shtml
Meyer, E. M., Potter, L. T., De Vane, C. L., Irwin, I., MacKay, S. L., Miller, R., & Ruttenber, A. J. (1990). Effects of benzoyltropine and tropacocaine on several cholinergic processes in the rat brain. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 254(2), 584-590. From https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/254/2/584.short
Novak, M., Salemink, C. A., & Khan, I. (1984). Biological activity of the alkaloids of Erythroxylum coca and Erythroxylum novogranatense. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 10(3), 261-274. From https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0378874184900151
Pramanik, P., & Vidua, R. K. (2018). Cocaine cardiac toxicity: revisited. In Cardiotoxicity. Rijeka, Croatia: IntechOpen. From https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=f1mRDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA91&dq=toxicity+of+erythroxylum+coca&ots=x9rZSWgoYj&sig=0XlZKOBCuUacUWhkYvWrqyXR71U#v=onepage&q=toxicity%20of%20erythroxylum%20coca&f=false
Richards, J. R., & Le, J. K. (2022). Cocaine toxicity. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430976/
Tiwari, R. K., Sharma, V., Pandey, R. K., & Shukla, S. S. (2020). Nicotine Addiction: Neurobiology and Mechanism. Journal of pharmacopuncture, 23(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2020.23.001
*More references of nicotine: TobaccoWikipedia. (2021) Hygrine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygrine
Medicinal Value Section
Medicinal Value Section
Biondich, A. S., & Joslin, J. D. (2016). Coca: the history and medical significance of an ancient Andean tradition. Emergency medicine international, 2016. From https://www.hindawi.com/journals/emi/2016/4048764/
Goldstein, R. A., DesLauriers, C., Burda, A., & Johnson-Arbor, K. (2009, February). Cocaine: history, social implications, and toxicity: a review. In Seminars in diagnostic pathology (Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 10-17). WB Saunders. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0740257008001123
Lam. (n.d.). Erythroxylum coca. Plants for a Future. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Erythroxylum+coca
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp.86-88)
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 15-16)
Edibility Section
Edibility Section
Biondich, A. S., & Joslin, J. D. (2016). Coca: the history and medical significance of an ancient Andean tradition. Emergency medicine international, 2016. From https://www.hindawi.com/journals/emi/2016/4048764/
Goldstein, R. A., DesLauriers, C., Burda, A., & Johnson-Arbor, K. (2009, February). Cocaine: history, social implications, and toxicity: a review. In Seminars in diagnostic pathology (Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 10-17). WB Saunders. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0740257008001123
Lam. (n.d.). Erythroxylum coca. Plants for a Future. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Erythroxylum+coca
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp.86-88)
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 15-16)
General Facts Section
General Facts Section
Biondich, A. S., & Joslin, J. D. (2016). Coca: the history and medical significance of an ancient Andean tradition. Emergency medicine international, 2016. From https://www.hindawi.com/journals/emi/2016/4048764/
Goldstein, R. A., DesLauriers, C., Burda, A., & Johnson-Arbor, K. (2009, February). Cocaine: history, social implications, and toxicity: a review. In Seminars in diagnostic pathology (Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 10-17). WB Saunders. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0740257008001123
InChem. (n.d.) Erythroxylum coca Lam. From https://inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/erythrox.htm
Lam. (n.d.). Erythroxylum coca. Plants for a Future. From https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Erythroxylum+coca
Largo, M. (2014). The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World's Most Fascinating Flora. HarperCollins Publishers. (pp.86-88)
Stewart, A. (2009). Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. (pp. 15-16)
Date of page creation: November 27, 2022
Updated Page: June 4, 2024
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