Stimulants from Plants

  • Overview of plant-derived stimulants:

    • Caffeine

    • Cocaine

    • Ephedrine

    • Theophylline

    • Nicotine

    • Strychnine

    • Other related compounds.

Caffeine-Containing Plants

  • List of notable caffeine-containing plants:

    • Coffea arabica L.

    • Theobroma cacao L.

    • Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze

    • Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.

    • Paullinia cupana Kunth

    • Cola acuminata (P. Beauv.) Schott & Endl.

  • Images and sources attributed to Thomas Schoepke: www.plant-pictures.de

Mechanism of Caffeine

  • Caffeine mimics adrenaline, altering nervous responses.

  • Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, leading to:

    • Reduced drowsiness

    • Decreased sedation.

Biological Action of Caffeine

  • Comparative diagram illustrating caffeine's action:

    • Normal Conditions versus conditions With Caffeine

    • Caffeine's role in blocking neurotransmitter activity via adenosine receptor antagonism.

Caffeine Content in Beverages

  • Coffee (5 oz cup):

    • Drip Method: 146 mg

    • Percolator: 110 mg

    • Instant Coffee: 53 mg

    • Decaffeinated Coffee: 2 mg

  • Tea (5 oz cup):

    • Brewed 1 min: 9-33 mg

    • Brewed 3-5 min: 22-50 mg

  • Cocoa:

    • Hot Cocoa (6 oz): 10 mg

    • 1 oz Milk Chocolate: 6 mg

    • 1 oz Baker's Chocolate: 35 mg.

  • Caffeinated Soft Drinks (12 oz):

    • Mountain Dew: 52 mg

    • Dr. Pepper, Pepsi Cola, Coca Cola: 34-37 mg

    • Monster Energy Drink: 54 mg

    • Red Bull: 111 mg.

Non-Prescription Drugs Containing Caffeine

  • NoDoz: 200 mg

  • Dristan Cold Remedy: 32 mg

  • Excedrin: 132 mg

  • Aquaban (Weight Control): 200 mg

  • Anacin: 64 mg

  • Prolamine (Weight Control): 280 mg

  • Dietac (Weight Control): 200 mg.

Coffee History

  • Origin:

    • Native to the highlands of Ethiopia.

    • Early brewing by Arabs in the 6th Century AD.

    • Spread to Egypt by 1510 AD.

    • Introduced to Europe by 1616.

  • Significant development:

    • By 1675 over 3000 coffee houses existed in England, serving as crucial social and political centers.

  • Trade monopolization by Arabs until Dutch smuggling seeds to East Indies, leading to further spread across Europe.

Coffee Cultivation and Processing

  • Seeds and Growth:

    • Coffee fruits (coffee cherries) are harvested, and seeds are extracted

    • Process:

    • Sun-dried

    • Seed coats removed

    • Roasted to develop flavors.

  • Instant Coffee Production:

    • Process involves spraying brewed coffee in a tower to evaporate water, leaving solids.

  • Decaffeination Methods:

    • Green beans soaked to soften; various methods used thereafter.

Types of Coffee Plants

  • Coffea robusta:

    • High disease resistance, better yields.

    • Taste: More bitter and earthy compared to Coffea arabica.

  • Coffea liberica:

    • Notable for largest seeds, lowest caffeine; may grow widely due to better heat tolerance.

Cocoas and Their History

  • Theobroma cacao, Malvaceae:

    • Native to northern South America.

    • Brought to Europe by Cortez; initially unpopular without sugar.

  • Plantation Development:

    • Spanish initiated plantations in the West Indies; Dutch in East Indies.

    • Largest contemporary cacao producers: Countries in West Africa.

    • Cacao Varieties:

    • Different tastes among varieties.

  • Chocolate Flavor Development:

    • Cacao seeds require fermentation.

    • Final stages include drying, roasting, peeling of dried beans, and grading.

Teas and Their Characteristics

  • Thea sinensis, Theaceae:

    • Native to China; production methods vary leading to different tea qualities:

    • Black Tea: Leaves withered, crushed, dried, and allowed to ferment.

    • Green Tea: Shredded and heated to deactivate enzymes, then dried quickly.

    • White Tea: Terminal leaf buds picked and dried quickly.

  • Legend of Discovery:

    • Chinese Emperor Shen Nung is believed to have discovered tea in 2732 BC.

  • Historical note:

    • After the 1880 coffee rust disease, Britain transitioned to tea consumption, with India today being the largest producer.

Mate' and Related Plants

  • Ilex paraguariensis, Aquifoliaceae:

    • Native to the South American Andes.

  • Additional plants: Wayus holly (Ilex guayusa), Guarana (Paullinia cupana), Kola (Cola nitida), and their native origins and uses.

Coca and Its Use

  • Coca leaves (Erythroxylum coca, Erythroxylaceae):

    • Native to the Andes of South America.

    • Historically significant in Andean culture.

  • Cocaine Effects:

    • Blocks reabsorption of dopamine, increasing pleasure sensations.

    • Originally isolated from coca leaves in 1860; promoted by Freud.

  • Coca-Cola:

    • Initially a cough syrup; design inspired by cacao pods.

  • Consequences of Use:

    • Prolonged cocaine use leads to dependence, with numerous negative health impacts including psychiatric effects and addiction concerns.

Tobacco and Its Historical Impact

  • Nicotiana tabacum & Nicotiana rustica, Solanaceae:

    • Introduced to Europe by Columbus.

    • Tobacco cultivation drove the slave trade in America.

    • Medicinal uses attributed to tobacco led to widespread acceptance.

    • Concerns raised by King James I regarding economic impacts led to a public counterblast against tobacco.

    • Nicotine:

    • Mimics acetylcholine, stimulates adrenaline release, and increases dopamine levels, resulting in high addictiveness and serious side effects, including cancer and cardiovascular issues.

Other Notable Stimulant Plants

  • Ephedra (Ephedra funerea, Ephedraceae):

    • Historical medicinal use as stimulant and for respiratory issues.

    • Today’s applications include decongestants and blood pressure treatments.

  • Tea (Theophylline):

    • Sources and effects of theophylline, emphasizing its use in treating asthma.

  • Other Plants:

    • Strychnos (Sources of strychnine)

    • Anamirta (Sources of picrotoxin)

    • Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata) for nicotine cravings

    • Khat (Catha edulis) as an amphetamine-like stimulant.