Q. Cocaine is obtained from

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Solution:

Cocaine is natural coca alkaloid obtained from leaves of coca (= cocca) plant-Erythroxylum coca (Family Erythroxylaceae) - a South American plant growing on the foot hills of Andes. Its chemical formula is . Cocaine is commonly called coke or crack. It is bitter, white, crystalline powder and called snow, sniff, crack, coke, princess, Big C. Cocaine has vasoconstrictor properties and therefore, is a good local anaesthetic. It is taken by snorting. It is a powerful CNS stimulant. It induces a sense of well-being and pleasure and delays fatigue. Its overdose causes headache, convulsions, insomnia, respiratory or cardiac failure and may lead to mental disorder. Excessive dosage of cocaine causes hallucinations.