Alkaloid Content of the Seeds from Erythroxylum Coca var. Coca

Abstract

Alkaloid extracts from the seeds of Erythroxylum Coca var. Coca grown in the Chapare Valley of Bolivia were subjected to gas and liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses. Several alkaloids from these seeds were detected and characterized, including methylecgonidine, tropine, 3α-acetoxytropane, ecgonine methyl ester, cuscohygrine, N-norbenzoyltropine, benzoyltropine, hexanoylecgonine methyl ester, cocaine, cis-cinnamoylcocaine, and trans-cinnamoylcocaine. Methylecgonidine was determined to be the primary constituent and not an analytical artifact. Additionally, two significant new uncharacterized alkaloids were established as present. Recent evidence suggests that some cocaine processors are adding this seed extraction material to cocaine extracted from coca leaf and may impact cocaine impurity signature profiles.

Detection of coca alkaloids in oral fluid from coca leaf (tea) consumers: using solid phase extraction to improve validation parameters and widen the detection window

“…These results can be explained taking into account that AEME and TRO are alkaloids that are present in low concentration in coca leaves. [22][23][24] As an example, Fig. 2 shows LC-MS/MS chromatograms of HYG and CUS in OF from volunteer 1 at 30, 60, 120 and 180 min aer coca tea consumption.…”

Comparison of Illicit Drug Seizures Products of Natural Origin Using a Molecular Networking Approach

“…Other alkaloids from Erythroxylum genus shrub leaves (namely, hexanoylecgonine methylester, trimethoxycocaine, and trans/cis-cinnamoylcocaine) were also found in a higher proportion in Y1 powder, corroborating this observation. [24][25][26] Four varieties of Erythroxylum are well known to be used by coca farmers for illicit cocaine production: E novogranatense var novogranatense, E novogranatense var truxillense, E coca var. ipadu and E coca var.…”

Erythroxylum in Focus: An Interdisciplinary Review of an Overlooked Genus

“…Cocaine synthase is also capable of using a multitude of alternate acyl-CoA donors, providing an explanation for the presence of alternative tropane alkaloid esters in coca leaves [152,153]. This includes the use of cinnamoyl-CoA to produce the compound cinnamoyl cocaine, a metabolite that can be present at higher levels than cocaine under certain developmental conditions [154]. Immunolocalization of cocaine synthase and cocaine were found to have the highest levels in the palisade layer, however, enzyme and product were also detected at lower levels in the spongy mesophyll and in the upper and lower epidermis [51].…”