Editing Kola nut (section)

==Description==
[[File:Cola acuminata - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-183.jpg|thumb|''[[Cola acuminata]]'' in flower: colored plate from ''[[Köhler's Medicinal Plants|Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen]]'' ]]
[[Image:Koeh-190.jpg|thumb|''Cola acuminata'' in fruit, also from ''Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen'']]
[[File:Cola MS 6687.JPG|thumb|Kola nuts spread out for sale in the central market in [[Ouagadougou]], Burkina Faso]]
About {{Convert|5|cm|frac=4}} across, the kola nut is a nut of evergreen trees of the genus ''[[Cola (plant)|Cola]]'', primarily of the species ''[[Cola acuminata]]'' and ''[[Cola nitida]]''.<ref name=Burdock>{{cite journal |last1= Burdock |first1=G. A. |last2=Carabin |first2=I. G. |last3=Crincoli |first3=C. M. |title= Safety Assessment of Kola Nut Extract as a Food Ingredient |journal= [[Food and Chemical Toxicology]] |year=2009 |volume= 47 |issue=8 |pages=1725–32 |doi= 10.1016/j.fct.2009.04.019 |pmid= 19394393}}</ref> ''Cola acuminata'', an evergreen tree about 20 meters in height, has long, ovoid leaves pointed at both the ends with a leathery texture. The trees have cream-white flowers with purplish-brown striations, and star-shaped fruit consisting of usually 5 [[follicle (fruit)|follicles]]. Inside each follicle, about a dozen prismatic seeds develop in a white seed-shell. The nut has a reddish or white color flesh on the inside, and has a sweet and rose-like aroma.<ref name="bbc" /> 

Kola nuts contain about 2–4% [[caffeine]] and [[theobromine]],<ref name=Burdock/> as well as [[tannin]]s, [[alkaloid]]s, [[saponin]]s, and [[flavonoid]]s.<ref>E. I. Adeyeye & O. O. Ayejuyo, Chemical composition of Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola seeds grown in Nigeria, ''International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition'',
Volume 45, 1994 - Issue 4.</ref>

=== Chemistry ===
Preliminary studies of [[phytochemical]]s in kola nut indicate the presence of various constituents: [[caffeine]] (2–3.5%), [[theobromine]] (1.0–2.5%), [[theophylline]], [[methylliberine]], [[polyphenol]]s, [[catechin]]s, and [[phlobaphen]]s (''kola red''), among others.<ref name="Burdock" />