Cocaine, biotransformation

The answer is local anesthetic properties it can block the initiation or conduction of a nerve impulse. It is biotransformed by plasma esterases to inactive products. In addition, cocaine blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine. This action produces CNS stimulant effects including euphoria, excitement, and restlessness Peripherally, cocaine produces sympathomimetic effects including tachycardia and vasoconstriction. Death from acute overdose can be from respiratory depression or cardiac failure Cocaine is an ester of benzoic acid and is closely related to the structure of atropine. 

Hydrolysis is a major biotransformation pathway for drugs containing an ester functionality. This is because of the relative case of hydrolyzing the ester linkage. A classic example of ester hydrolysis is the metabolic conversion of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to salicylic acid. " Of the two aslcr moieties present in cocaine, it appears that, in general, the methyl group is hydrolyzed preferentially to yield ben-roylecgoninc os the major human urinary metabolite. The... 

Despite extensive efforts, solid complexes of metal ions with cocaine were not isolated. For the development of a radioimmunoassay for biotransformed cocaine, a tritium-labelled O-benzoylecgonine (30) of high specific activity was... 

Cocaine 1 is mainly metabolized by two distinct pathways in humans. The major biotransformation consists of various hydrolytic reactions. 

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