Convolvulus pluricaulis (Shankhpushpi) and Erythroxylum coca (Coca plant)
Azamal Husen in Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees of Potential Medicinal Benefits, 2022
Coca is still used as a medical treatment by South American Indians, in addition to its general stimulant and social uses (Martin, 1970; Biondich and Joslin, 2016). One of the most traditional functions of coca in Andean living is the treatment of gastrointestinal distress. Coca leaf tea is used to treat stomach discomfort, intestinal spasms, nausea, indigestion, as well as constipation and diarrhea (Weil, 1981; Biondich and Joslin, 2016). Coca seems to restore normal tone to the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal system. It may be preferable to belladonna, atropine, and other parasympathetic blocking medications in that it has no unpleasant side effects. In reality, most people see coca leaf's “side effects” as positive. It is used as a replacement stimulant for coffee by those who consume a lot of coffee but have exacerbations of gastrointestinal problems from it. Coffee is highly inflammatory to the stomach mucosa while also being extremely stimulating to the intestines. Coca can give beneficial CNS stimulation while also being a traditional treatment for gastrointestinal problems. Furthermore, coffee can cause significant physiological dependency. However, coca addiction is significantly less prevalent (Weil, 1981). It is primarily regarded as a complete treatment that restores digestive system equilibrium. Coca is chewed or kept in the mouth to relieve pain from oral sores and to help in the healing of oral lesions (Weil, 1981; Biondich and Joslin, 2016). Similarly, this herb is used to treat toothaches (Biondich and Joslin, 2016).
Inhalational Durg Abuse
Jacob Loke in Pathophysiology and Treatment of Inhalation Injuries, 2020
Chemically, cocaine is methylbenzoylecgonine and is an alkaloid extracted from the South American plant Erythroxylon coca. After purification to its hydrochloride salt, cocaine is a white crystalline powder and is water soluble. Pure cocaine (base or freebase) is almost insoluble in water. It is metabolized by esterases in liver (Jones, 1984), cholinesterases in plasma, and by nonenzymatic hydrolysis. The major urinary cocaine metabolites are benzoylecgonine (Fish and Wilson, 1969) and ecgonine methyl ester (Inaba et al., 1978). In samples from patients with a pseudocholinesterase deficiency, there was a marked decrease in the in vitro rate of cocaine degradation, indicating the probable role of plasma cholinesterase in cocaine metabolism (Inaba et al., 1978; Jatlow et al., 1979). The plasma half-life of cocaine is about 1.5 hr. About 80% of the drug is excreted in the urine as ecgonine methyl ester and benzoylecgonine, both of which can be detected in the urine by drug abuse screening.
Stimulants and psychedelics
Ilana B. Crome, Richard Williams, Roger Bloor, Xenofon Sgouros in Substance Misuse and Young People, 2019
In most countries, production, distribution and sale of cocaine products, and cultivation of the coca plant are restricted, as it is regulated by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Additionally, in the United States, it is regulated by the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, as a Schedule II drug; it is available in a liquid preparation for use in medical and surgical centres, but it is not available for prescription. In the UK, cocaine is a Class A drug, controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, though medical use by doctors to control pain is permitted. Some countries, such as Peru and Bolivia, permit cultivation of coca leaf for traditional consumption by the local indigenous population, and Peru, Mexico and Colombia permit possession of small quantities of cocaine powder. In addition, some other parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, have decriminalised possession, or allow use of processed cocaine for medicinal purposes.
The global movement towards a public health approach to substance use disorders
Published in Annals of Medicine, 2022
Kimberly Johnson, Irina Pinchuk, Marie Isabel E. Melgar, Martin Osayande Agwogie, Fernando Salazar Silva
Peru is one of the primary national producers of cocaine and coca products and its policy has evolved within that role in the drug economy [22]. Historically, in Peru there is an association between the Andean man, work, and the coca leaf. The Andean cultures have used coca leaf, attributing magical properties to it, and recognized its ability to mitigate hunger, cold and physical fatigue during workdays in the fields and mines [62]. Currently, it is believed that consumption of chewed coca leaf in rural areas remains highly prevalent among agricultural workers, though data is lacking. The cultural heritage surrounding the use of coca has rendered eradication programmes or alternative development programmes ineffective, though these are the primary historic approaches to addressing use of CBP and cocaine in the country and region [22].
Polydrug Use and Co-occurring Substance Use Disorders in a Respondent Driven Sampling of Cocaine Base Paste Users in Santiago, Chile
Published in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2022
Carla F. Olivari, Jorge Gaete, Nicolás Rodriguez, Esteban Pizarro, Paloma Del Villar, Esteban Calvo, Alvaro Castillo-Carniglia
In Latin America, the most widely available and used psychoactive drugs (after alcohol) are cannabis, cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base paste (CBP). The latter, however, is the substance recognized as producing the most harm among users and is one of the main drugs of use among treatment patients at admission (Hynes et al. 2019; James et al., 2018). CBP is an intermediate product in the production of cocaine hydrochloride with a high addictive potential (Moraes et al. 2010). It is obtained by treating a solution of coca leaves and water with kerosene or diesel, and then adding sulfuric acid and an alkaline substance (i.e., potassium permanganate) to precipitate the cocaine base paste. CBP contains varying percentages of cocaine, and due to its volatility at high temperatures, and in regard to consumption, it is most commonly inhaled after its combustion in pipes or in cigarettes in combination with tobacco or cannabis (Moraes et al. 2010; Pascale et al. 2014).
Long-term cocaine use is associated with increased coronary plaque burden – a pilot study
Published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 2020
Doris Hsinyu Chen, Márton Kolossváry, Shaoguang Chen, Hong Lai, Hsin-Chieh Yeh, Shenghan Lai
Cocaine is an addictive stimulant that is sourced from the Erythroxylon coca plant. It is categorized as a Schedule II drug and can be prescribing for medical purposes such as local anesthesia during surgery (1). The short-term physical effects of cocaine include sensitivity to environmental factors, increased energy, and mental alertness. The effects vary depending on the amount and route of exposure. There is a wide range of physiological effects from increased heart rate to narrowing of blood vessels. Long-term use can lead to negative health consequences such as cardiovascular problems, coma, and seizures (2,3). Even though the rates of cocaine use have remained steady over the past decade, cocaine is still a widely used substance in the United States. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 5.5 million people used cocaine in 2018 (4).
Related Knowledge Centers
- Alkaloid
- Cocaine
- Erythroxylum Coca
- Glyphosate
- Psychoactive Plant
- Acid–Base Extraction
- Prunus Spinosa
- Berry
- Herbicide
- Plant Breeding