Uses of Kola Nuts

Source and Distribution of Kola:

Kola nut is obtained as a cotyledon of Cola nitida belonging to the family Sterculiaceae. It is also known as bissy or gooroo seeds. It is cultivated in West Africa, Brazil, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and East Africa.

English: Cola nuts Polski: Grafika podręcznika pl:Wikijunior:Owoce. Orzech kola, Cola (Cola acuminata). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chemical Constituents of Kola Nuts

Purine alkaloids are present in the kola nuts like caffeine and theobromine. It also contains tannins like kolacatechin. They are separated by drying the kola nuts. The drug contains 1-3% caffeine and 1% theobromine.

Chemical structure of Caffeine and the three primary metabolites that it is metabolized into inside the liver. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Uses of Kola Nuts:

• Kola nuts are used in the preparation of aerated beverages.
• It is also used as a stimulant.
  

  English: Caffeine-Free Diet Coke (Photo credit: Wikipedia)