RESUMO
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.
Assuntos
Cocaína/análogos & derivados , Cocaína/análise , Cabelo/química , Múmias , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/história , Adulto , Cocaína/história , Feminino , História Antiga , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Peru , Detecção do Abuso de Substâncias/métodosRESUMO
Chewing of coca leaves was an integral part of many Andean pre-Columbian populations. Since the cocaine metabolite benzoylecognine is entrapped in hair of the user, this could serve as a convenient specimen for analysis. We tested the scalp hair of 8 Chilean mummies with dates ranging from 2,000 BC to 1,500 AD. This article reports that benzoylecognine is very stable and can be found in mummy hair.