Kola: tree, 184 nuts

Coca-Cola was originally flavored with extracts from the leaves of the coca plant and the kola nut. Coca is grown in northern South America the Indians of Peru and Bolivia have for centuries chewed the leaves to relieve the pangs of hunger and high mountain cold. The cocaine from the leaves causes local anesthesia of the stomach. It has limited use as a local anesthetic for surgery on the eye, nose, and throat. Unfortunately it is now a widely abused illicit drug. Kola nuts contciin about 3% caffeine as well as a number of other alkaloids. The kola tree is in the same family as the cacao tree from which cocoa cmd chocolate cu-e obtained. Modem cola drinks do not contain cocaine however, Coca-Cola contains 43 mg of caffeine per... 

Caffeine consumption is primarily due to coffee, tea and soft drinks. In the U.S., it is estimated that coffee contributes to 75% of the total caffeine intake, tea is 15%, and soda with caffeine accounts for 10% 5 chocolate and other caffeine-containing foods and medications contribute relatively little to overall caffeine exposure. Caffeine also varies by sources tea leaves contain 1.5 to 3.5% caffeine kola nuts contain 2% caffeine and roasted coffee beans contain 0.75 to 1.5% caffeine.6 Coffee varies in caffeine content some analyses have estimated that caffeine may range from 0.8 to 1.8%, depending on the type of coffee.7 Crops of coffee, tea, and cocoa are very similar in their production periods and their useful life in production. Typically coffee, tea, and cocoa trees can be productive with crops every 5 years for a total period of 40 years,8 or an estimated 8 yields per tree. 

Kola nut, also known as cola nut, cola, and African kola nut, is the seed kernel of a several large trees native to Africa, ft is extremely popular in the tropics as a caffeine-containing stimulant. Historically, it was believed to help hunters endure fatigue when food was not available. Today, kola nut is a stimulant and is believed to be an appetite suppressant, antidepressant, diuretic (water pill), and astringent (a material that causes body tissues to tighten). 

Kola (also spelled cola) is a nut from the plants Cola nitida and C. acuminata (figure 4.7). It is an evergreen tree, growing 15 to 20 meters... 

Many naturally occurring plant extracts are reputed to possess anti-irritant properties and have been recommended for use in cosmetic formulations. These include such diverse mixtures as tea tree oil, borage seed oil, Paraguay tea extract. Kola nut extract, oil of rosemary, and lavender oil. It is, however, difficult to standardize plant extracts and there may be a great deal of lot-to-lot variability in constituents. Understandably, this makes identification and isolation of any specific active constituent complex and laborious. The extracts may be oily or hydrophilic and contain compounds such as a-bisabolol, xanthines, polyphenols, and phytosterols.There is great potential in the use of plant extracts for irritation and sensitization reduction. This has been established within the cosmetic industry, and interest here has stimulated activity into reducing variability by more consistent cultivation techniques and more standardized extraction methods. 

Tea is made by processing the leaves of the tea tree Camellia sinensis, which originated in the southern areas of Yunnan province in China, and is now spread throughout the world. This plant has been used as a medicine for 5,000 years, and was probably first selected because its leaves contain a high concentration of caffeine. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, and other caffeine-containing plant products, such as coffee beans, cacao beans, guarana berries, kola nuts, and mate leaves, have been selected and used to make beverages by people on various continents. 

Caffeine is a different kind of nonprescription remedy. The stimulant occurs naturally in coffee, tea, cocoa, and in the leaves or fruit of plants such as the guarana or kola nut tree. Manufacturers add it to soft drinks and other products. 

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