Botanical Overview
Erythroxylum ellipticum is a species in the Erythroxylaceae family. The coca family (Erythroxylaceae) includes tropical shrubs and small trees with alternate leaves and small flowers. The plants produce alkaloids concentrated in the leaves, most notably cocaine and related tropane alkaloids. Species in this family have a long history of traditional stimulant and medicinal use in South America. Phytochemical data for this species are limited at present.
General Description
It grows as a shrub or tree. It is locally known as kerosene wood or turpentine tree - because its green branches and twigs burn readily. The shrub or tree typically grows to a height of 1 to 5 m (3 ft 3 in to 16 ft 5 in) and produces white-green flowers around November. It is found on rocky hillsides and in creek beds growing in sandstone based soils in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and extending across the top end of the Northern Territory and on parts of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.
Family Context
The Erythroxylaceae family is primarily neotropical. Notable medicinal members include:
- Coca — 42 documented uses
- Amazonian Coca — 42 documented uses
- Guarda orvalho — 1 documented uses
- Arabillo — 1 documented uses
Geographic Distribution
Erythroxylum ellipticum has been recorded in Australia, and Brazil.
Active Compounds
Phytochemical research has identified 1 compound in this species: 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate.
Research Status
Although this species has documented phytochemical constituents, its ethnobotanical and clinical documentation remains incomplete. Systematic pharmacological studies are needed to validate the traditional uses attributed to this species.