title: Cocaine and metabolites in the hair of ancient Peruvian coca leaf chewers.
abstract: Cocaine and its metabolites, benzoylecgonine (BZE) and ecgonine methylester (EME), were found in hair samples from ancient Peruvian coca-leaf chewers dating back to AD 1000. Hair was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to quantitate the concentrations. The two metabolites were found in higher concentration than the parent drug. The metabolite levels appear to be below that of modern cocaine abusers. Gender does not appear to be a factor in the incorporation of drug into hair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of North Texas Health Science Centre, Fort Worth.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Springfield
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Cartmell
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Aufderheide
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buikstra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis* / Q000266:history; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009106:Mummies; D010568:Peru; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000266:history*
chemical_list: C005618:benzoylecgonine; D003042:Cocaine