molecules Review Erythroxylum in Focus: An Interdisciplinary Review of an Overlooked Genus 1, 2, 3 4 David A. Restrepo y, Ernesto Saenz y, Orlando Adolfo Jara-Muñoz , Iván F. Calixto-Botía , Sioly Rodríguez-Suárez 1, Pablo Zuleta 1, Benjamin G. Chavez 5, Juan A. Sanchez 1,2 and John C. D’Auria 5,* 1 Centro de Estudios sobre Seguridad y Drogas, Facultad de Economía, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota 111711, Colombia;
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[email protected] (J.A.S.) 2 Departamento Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota 111711, Colombia;
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[email protected]; Tel.: +49-394-825-176 These authors contributed equally to this work. y Academic Editor: John C. D’Auria. Received: 2 September 2019; Accepted: 18 October 2019; Published: 21 October 2019 Abstract: The genus Erythroxylum contains species used by indigenous people of South America long before the domestication of plants. Two species, E. coca and E. novogranatense, have been utilized for thousands of years specifically for their tropane alkaloid content. While abuse of the narcotic cocaine has impacted society on many levels, these species and their wild relatives contain untapped resources for the benefit of mankind in the form of foods, pharmaceuticals, phytotherapeutic products, and other high-value plant-derived metabolites.