Erythroxylon truxillense

Hygrine occurs in Erythroxylon truxillense Rusby leaves in extractable quantities, but not in those of other tropane-forming species. It could be equally well regarded either as an intermediate substance or an unmanageable side product. Difficulties in realizing its oxidation have led to the suggestion of yet another possible precursor of hyoscyamine in diamino-adipic acid. When this is done the difficulty of the intermediate oxidation disappears, but the origin of the diaminoacid puts another in its place. 

The liabitat of Erythroxylon spp. is principally the western side of Soutl America, and although indigenous species occur in India, Africa anc Australia, they have no economic value. Two kinds of coca leaves ar< available in commerce, Bolivian or Huanuco leaves derived from E. coce Lam. and Peruvian or Truxillo leaves obtained from E. truxillense Rusby both are cultivated in Java. In South America coca leaves are chewee with lime by the Indians as a stimulant, and are exported to Europe foi use in medicine and for the preparation of cocaine, but the prineipal sourc< of coca leaves is Java. Crude cocaine is manufactured in South Americi and exported for refining and some aspects of this industry have beei discussed recently. ... 

The plants are shrubs or small trees that attain a height of about 2 m they are indigenous to Peru (E. truxillense) and Bolivia (E. coca) and are cultivated not only in these countries but also in Indonesia (E. truxillense), and to some extent in Sri Lankan. Erythroxylon is from two Greek words meaning red and wood, alluding to the color of the plants coca is the Spanish name for the tree and truxillense is from Truxillo, a coastal city in northern Peru. 

Cocaine.— This narcotic alkaloid, having the formula C17H21NO4, is found in the leaves of Erythroxylon Coca and E. Truxillense. If sections of these leaves are prepared in the same manner as indicated for those containing Caffeine, but platinum chloride solution substituted for that of gold chloride, large feathers or plumes of cocaine-chloro-platinate will be seen separating. 

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