Coca is any of the four cultivated plants in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America. Coca is known worldwide for its psychoactive alkaloid, cocaine.

Mar 19, 2025 · Coca, (Erythroxylum coca), tropical shrub, of the family Erythroxylaceae, the leaves of which are the source of the drug cocaine. The plant, cultivated in Africa, northern …

Coca leaf products are an integral part of the lives of the Andean peoples from both a cultural and traditional medicine perspective. Coca is also the whole plant from which cocaine is derived. …

Erythroxylum coca is one of two species of cultivated coca. The coca plant resembles a blackthorn bush, and grows to a height of 2–3 m (7–10 ft). The branches are straight, and the …

Feb 10, 2025 · There Are Two Species and Four Varieties of Coca. Illustration of coca leaves and flowers. Source: National Geographic. The name of the infamous coca plant comes from the …

Coca (Erythroxylum coca) is a plant. The leaves are sometimes used to make medicinal tea. They are also a source of cocaine, an illegal drug in the US.

Aug 5, 2014 · TNI's Drugs and Democracy Team exposes the myths and reality surrounding the coca leaf. Contents: What is coca? What is its relationship to cocaine? Why is the coca leaf …

May 25, 2019 · One of the main nutritional properties of the coca leaf are alkaloids. These, in addition, allow the plant to be used to cure ailments and diseases. Among its main medicinal …

Jan 28, 2025 · Coca leaves are not only a source of bioactive compounds but also provide nutritional benefits. They contain vitamins and minerals that support overall health, including …

The coca plant grows as a leafy shrub to around 2.5m tall and has straight branches. The leaves are light green, ranging in shape from oval to lance and about 6cm long and 3cm across. The …