Author
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Johnson, Emanuel |
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Submitted to: Annals of Botany
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 4/11/1995 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: The purpose of this research was to define the section of the E. coca leaf where cocaine and its metabolites were most abundant. Mature E. coca leaves 35 to 70 days old were divided into four primary sections, petiole, base, mid and anterior, where each section comprised 33% of the lamina. Each primary section was divided into three sub-sections, the lamina periphery, false mid-rib and true mid-rib. Content (% dry weight) and distribution of cocaine, hygrine, cuscohygrine, trans and cis-cinnamoylcocaine, tropacocaine, tropinone and methyl ecgonine were determined in each sub-section of the lamina and the petiole. Information obtained from this research is valuable to USDA ARS, researchers in food, forensic, pharmaceutical and pesticide industry, Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy, Veterans Administration, DEA, CNC, and CIA. Technical Abstract: Fully expanded leaves of Erythroxylum coca var. coca, 35 to 70 days old were harvested and divided into four primary sections (petiole, base, mid and anterior) and three sub-sections (lamina, false and true mid- rib) to determine distribution and content of hygrine, cuscohygrine, trans and cis-cinnamoylcocaine, tropinone, tropacocaine, cocaine, and methyl ecgonine. Leaf sub-sections were extracted and analyzed for alkaloid content (%) by HPLC (cocaine content) gas chromatography, and GC/MS. Cocaine, methyl ecgonine and hygrine were highest in the leaf lamina. Trans-cinnamoylcocaine was most abundant in the petiole. Cis- cinnamoylcocaine, tropinone and cuscohygrine were ubiquitously distributed throughout each section of the leaf. |
