Forensic toxicology backdates the use of coca plant in Europe to the early 1600s

Forensic toxicology research has revealed that the coca plant (Erythroxylum spp.) was present in Europe as early as the 1600s, significantly earlier than previously documented. This finding is based on toxicological analyses of preserved human brain tissue from Milan, Italy, which showed the presence of cocaine alkaloids. The study indicates that the use of Erythroxylum spp. predates its known medicinal applications, as it was not included in the hospital pharmacopeia of the time. This discovery not only provides the first evidence of coca plant consumption in Europe but also highlights the potential of applying toxicological methods to archaeological studies, allowing researchers to reassess the timeline of the coca plant's introduction to the continent. The implications of this research suggest that the cultural and historical significance of coca in Europe may need to be reevaluated, considering its use nearly two centuries earlier than previously thought.

- The coca plant was used in Europe as early as the 1600s.

- Toxicological analyses detected cocaine in human remains from Milan.

- The findings suggest coca was not used as a medicinal remedy at that time.

- This research highlights the value of toxicology in archaeological contexts.

- The study prompts a reevaluation of the historical timeline of coca's introduction to Europe.