Coca
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Coca refers to any of the four cultivated plant species in the botanical family Erythroxylaceae, which are native to the Andean region of northwestern South America. Among these, Erythroxylum coca and Erythroxylum novogranatense are the primary sources of cocaine, a tropane alkaloid that acts as a central nervous system stimulant. Cocaine is released from the leaves of these plants through chewing or extraction.
Chemistry
Coca leaves contain between 0.3% and 1.5% cocaine.[1]
History and culture
The Tairona people of Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta chewed the coca plant before engaging in extended meditation and prayer.[2]
External links
References
- ↑ "Illicit Production of Cocaine – [www.rhodium.ws]". Erowid.org. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
- ↑ Museo del Oro, Banco de la República. "Museo del Oro, Colombia" (in Spanish). Banrep.gov.co. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-09.