What is "hygrine"

Hygrine \Hy"grine\, n. [From Gr. ? moist.] (Chem.) An alkaloid associated with cocaine in coca leaves ( Erythroxylon coca), and extracted as a thick, yellow oil, having a pungent taste and odor.

n. (context organic compound English) A (l/en: pyrrolidine) (l/en: alkaloid) found mainly in (l/en: coca) leaves, extracted as a thick, (l/en: pungent), pale-yellow (l/en: oil) of a burning taste.

Hygrine is a pyrrolidine alkaloid, found mainly in coca leaves (0.2%). It was first isolated by Carl Liebermann in 1889 (along with a related compound cuscohygrine) as an alkaloid accompanying cocaine in coca. Hygrine is extracted as a thick yellow oil, having a pungent taste and odor.