Kingdom Animalia and Plantae-Cocaine
Question
Plant Chemical Adaptations
Physical adaptations are one-way plants adjust to specific
environmental conditions. For example, cacti have spines in place of leaves to
prevent water loss in the arid conditions of the desert. Chemical adaptations
are another means for plant protection. Many plants produce toxic or noxious
compounds to protect themselves from insects or animals that would eat them, to
reduce competition from other plants, or even to change the response of
pollinators. Humans often harvest these compounds for their own benefit.Watch this video for help with completing the assignment.
- Read this article on the search
for useful plant compounds
- Read this article on the
less-than-beneficial uses of plant products
- Choose 1 of the
following compounds:
- Caffeine
- Cocaine********chosen
- Nicotine
- Answer the following for the
compound you chose in the form of a 1–2-page paper.
- Describe the compound and in what
plant(s) it is found.
- Explain how this compound provides
protection for the plant.
- Does the compound provide any other
benefits for the plant, such as enhanced pollination?
- What effect does the compound have
on humans?
- Utilize at least 1 credible source
to support the arguments presented in the paper. Make sure that you cite
appropriately within your paper, and list the reference(s) in APA format
on your Reference page.
- Formatting guidelines: In accordance with APA formatting requirements, your paper should include Title and Reference pages; should be double-spaced; and should include a running head and page numbers. Your paper should be 1–2 pages in length, not counting the Title page, and Reference page.


Solution
Kingdom Animalia and
Plantae-Cocaine
Compound
Description
Cocaine is a tropane
alkaloid having stimulant and analgesic properties for the central nervous
system (CNS). Cocaine is present in a coca plant’s leaves that thrives in the
Northern America region. The action of Cocaine involves dopamine, serotonin,
and norepinephrine reuptake into presynaptic neurons. The process is inhibited
when Cocaine binds to the transport proteins for the` neurotransmitters
(Sonkar, Singh & Husen, 2022). When this happens, the synaptic cleft
becomes overloaded with the relevant neurotransmitters, which might lead to an
increase in postsynaptic receptor activity. Sodium voltage-gated channels in
neuronal cell membranes are the mechanism of action by which Cocaine exerts its
local anesthetic effects (NIDA, 2021). Cocaine suppresses the start and
conduction of nerve impulses by stabilizing neuronal membranes, resulting in a
temporary lack of feeling.
How
the Compound Protects the Plant
N-methyltransferases
are a group of enzymes that include Cocaine-producing enzymes. Various
compounds may be synthesized from it, found in many kinds of plants. Many of
the chemicals generated from these compounds are used in warfare against
plants. For other plants to grow, the Cocaine in the coca leaves that have died
and fallen to the ground makes it more difficult (Tlak Gajger & Dar, 2021).
Insects have evolved taste receptors that warn them not to consume plants that
contain high quantities of Cocaine.
There is no way to
tell what it does in plants, where it comes from, or how it works. Current
research shows that Cocaine has insecticidal properties at levels seen in coca
leaves. However, unlike in humans, the pesticide effects of Cocaine are
demonstrated to originate from an increase in insect octopaminergic
neurotransmission rather than dopamine’s absorption. In addition to affecting
the amine transporters of vertebrates, amine-reuptake blockers of other
structural classes also have pesticide effects.
Benefits
For the Plant, Such as Enhanced Pollination
Since they are
exclusively entomophilous, Coca plants can only be pollinated by insects,
namely little flies from the Ceratopogonidae family. Nectar with a small amount
of Cocaine from Coca trees is useful for pollinating insects, eating nectar
smeared with Cocaine, and benefiting from this activity. Insects are more
likely to return to bloom if they remember the smells and are attracted to
them, so it helps to pollinate the plant (Tlak Gajger & Dar, 2021). Thus, a
plant containing flowers full of nectar with a small dose of Cocaine benefits
the plant from pollinating insects.
Effects
of Cocaine on Human
Cocaine is a powerful
stimulant in humans. Because the brain and the body are awakened, it may be
used to treat drowsiness and migraines. Acute aortic rupture, cardiac
arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac arrest have been linked to Cocaine use (NIDA, 2021).
When taken in excess, Cocaine
can have serious consequences for both the user’s mental health and the health
of their entire body. Cocaine’s transient rise in synaptic dopamine may justify
why the drug is frequently re-administered. Changes in dopamine neurotransmission
may cause compulsive patterns of use. Numerous social, financial, and family
issues can arise when Cocaine use becomes addictive, including psychosocial
dysfunction and deviant behavior. There is a real danger of Cocaine use:
addiction, serious medical complications, and even death.
In
summation, Cocaine has both positive and negative impacts as a stimulant.
First, it is an effective insecticide; it is also a protective element as it
produces chemicals that kill the plants, likely to create competition for
nutrients. Additionally, Cocaine in the nectar assists in pollination as it
attracts insect pollinators. Further, it has medicinal value as a treatment for
migraine. However, Cocaine misuse for recreation may lead to addiction and
consequential detrimental effects on the users.
References
NIDA.
(2021). what are the short-term effects of Cocaine use? Retrieved from
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/Cocaine/what-are-short-term-effects-Cocaine-use
on 2022, June 8
Sonkar,
S., Singh, A. K., & Husen, A. (2022). Convolvulus pluricaulis
(Shankhpushpi) and Erythroxylum coca (Coca plant). In Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees of Potential Medicinal Benefits (pp.
83-94). CRC Press.10.1201/9781003205067
Tlak
Gajger, I., & Dar, S. A. (2021). Plant allelochemicals as sources of
insecticides. Insects, 12(3), 189.https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12030189




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