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Article: Cocaine each day keeps the bugs away. (cocaine existing naturally in coca leaves acts as pesticide) (Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- October 30, 1993
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Although it might seem otherwise, coca plants do not make cocaine just for people to use and abuse. One of many alkaloids manufactured by plants, cocaine works to keep insects away, says James A. Nathanson, a neurobiologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Previously, researchers had noticed that few insects nibble coca plants, a surprising observation given that their leaves are perpetually young and tender because of people harvesting them for the drug trade, says Nathanson. Also, since cocaine can cause mammals to become anorexic, he also wondered what effect cocaine might have on insect feeding behavior.
Nathanson and his colleagues ...