Cocaine is the main alkaloid extracted from the Erythroxylon coca plant, which grows in tropical Andes Mountains at altitudes between 500 and 1000 m. The use of the coca leaves by native populations for therapeutic, ritual, and adaptive (e.g. for attenuation of the perception of fatigue and hunger) purposes has historical roots, dating back to over 4000 years ago. Although the European population had contact with the coca leaf since the sixteenth century, it was only upon the isolation of cocaine in 1860 that it turned attention to its pharmacological effects. At the end of the 1800s, cocaine received enormous interest in therapeutics, and its use was proposed for the treatment of many diseases. Of these uses, the last to disappear was that of local anesthesia. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the addictive properties of cocaine began to be investigated and its toxic profile characterized.
Preclinical Animal Studies: Cocaine
KALLUPI, MARSIDA;CICCOCIOPPO, Roberto
2013-01-01
Abstract
Cocaine is the main alkaloid extracted from the Erythroxylon coca plant, which grows in tropical Andes Mountains at altitudes between 500 and 1000 m. The use of the coca leaves by native populations for therapeutic, ritual, and adaptive (e.g. for attenuation of the perception of fatigue and hunger) purposes has historical roots, dating back to over 4000 years ago. Although the European population had contact with the coca leaf since the sixteenth century, it was only upon the isolation of cocaine in 1860 that it turned attention to its pharmacological effects. At the end of the 1800s, cocaine received enormous interest in therapeutics, and its use was proposed for the treatment of many diseases. Of these uses, the last to disappear was that of local anesthesia. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the addictive properties of cocaine began to be investigated and its toxic profile characterized.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
