Coca bush (coca). Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Coca bush (coca). Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

cultivated and wild plants. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

Directory / Cultivated and wild plants

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Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
Genus, family, origin, range, chemical composition, economic importance
Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations

Coca shrub (coca), Erythroxylon coca. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Coca bush (coca)

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Erythroxylon

Family: Erythroxylaceae (Erythroxylaceae)

Origin: South America, Andean regions of Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador.

Area: The coca bush is mainly found in the tropical and subtropical regions of South America, but can also be grown in other regions of the world.

Chemical composition: Cocaine, cocaetine, tryptamine, norepinephrine and other alkaloids.

Economic value: Coca bush is used medicinally as a central nervous system stimulant and as an anesthetic and anesthetic. However, cocaine is also a narcotic substance and can cause serious health problems if used incorrectly.

Legends and myths: In the culture of the Andean Indians, coca played an important role in religious ceremonies and was regarded as a sacred plant. It has also been used for medicinal purposes and to combat altitude sickness, which often occurs in the mountainous regions where coca grows. The symbolic meaning of coca stems from its ability to stimulate the mind and body. In the culture of the Andean Indians, it was regarded as a sacred plant that helps people connect with the divine.

Coca shrub (coca), Erythroxylon coca. Description, illustrations of the plant

Coca shrub (coca), Erythroxylon coca. Methods of application, origin of the plant, range, botanical description, cultivation

Coca bush (coca)

The large genus Erythroxylon coca Lam. belongs to the Cocaine family of the same name (Erythroxylaceae). The genus includes 193 species in tropical countries, mainly in America. It does not occur in the wild.

It comes from the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes. It is widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics of all South American countries, as well as in Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and some African countries (Cameroon, etc.).

One of the known species of the genus Erythroxylon - coca bush (Erythroxylon coca) - is represented by plants 1-2 m high. Leaves 5-9,7 cm long and 2-4,4 cm wide. Inflorescence of 6-12 flowers. The fruit is a drupe, elongated-ovoid, pointed, 0,7-0,8 cm long and 0,3-0,4 cm in diameter.

In the XVI century. The Spaniards learned from the Indians about the unusual properties of coca leaves. The Indians mixed these dry leaves with ash, put the resulting lump behind the cheek and chewed slowly, swallowing saliva. Chewing gum had a tonic effect in case of fatigue and dulled the feeling of hunger. The Indians took coca on the road during long transitions in the mountains, during hard work in the mines and in other cases to relieve fatigue.

Shrub leaves began to be imported to Europe at the end of the XNUMXth century. for preparation of tonic tincture. Fresh leaves have no effect, fermentation and drying are necessary. In the era of the Inca Empire, the coca bush was a sacred plant.

Coca bush (coca)

In 1850, the alkaloid cocaine was isolated from the leaves and its strong narcotic effect was discovered. The local anesthetic effect of cocaine was first established in 1878 by the Russian pharmacologist V.K. Anrep. This property has proved valuable for small operations and dental practice. Currently, cocaine is being replaced by synthetic drugs.

The systematic use of cocaine as a drug causes great harm to the body - the nervous system is loosened and death quickly occurs. A special UN commission examined the Indians who used bush chewing gum, the commission concluded that the drug was very harmful and recommended that it be banned.

The leaves of the coca bush contain 0,5-1,5% alkaloids, of which the main groups are cocaine (cocaine, cyniamilcocaine, truxillin, tropacaine, etc.), as well as hygrin and cuscohygrin. The amount of cocaine alkaloids contains up to 80%. For the industrial semi-synthesis of cocaine, alkaloids of the cocaine group are used.

In addition to the Peruvian and Bolivian coca bush E. coca Lam. cocaine is also found in the New Granada coca bush - Erythroxylon novogranatense (Murris) Hieron. It comes from the Antilles; in tropical Asia (the island of Java and the Malay Peninsula) is known in culture under the name Java-coca.

Authors: Baranov V.D., Ustimenko G.V.

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