<p>Rewarding Effect of <em>Catha edulis</em> (Khat) and the Sex Differences to the Responses in Swiss Albino Mice</p>

The leaves of khat plant (Catha edulis) are widely consumed by people of East African countries and Arabian Peninsula for their pleasurable and stimulating effects. The consumption of khat is prohibited in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but it is being used by the people of Kingdom, especially in the region of Jazan, where it is easily available due to its cultivation in the neighbouring country Yemen. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of very low doses of cathinone on the brain lipids. Male Swiss albino mice were divided in 4 groups, one control and 3 experimental and each group having 6 animals. (-) Cathinone, 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg body weight was given intraperitoneal to animals for 10 days, once daily. Cathinone has elevated the level of triglyceride significantly and dose dependently as compared to control group. On the other hand, the content of ganglioside was depleted significantly and dose dependently in experimental groups as compared to control group. A significantly elevated level of cholesterol was observed with the doses of 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg and phospholipids with the dose of 0.5 mg/kg of cathinone as compared to control group. No significant change on total lipids was observed in cathinone treated group as compared to control group. The study concludes that very low doses of cathinone were sufficient for the change on the brain lipid contents to provide excitement in khat chewers.

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Evaluation of immunomodulatory activities of methanolic extract of khat (Catha edulis, Forsk) and cathinone in Swiss albino mice

BMC Immunology ◽

10.1186/s12865-015-0072-5 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tsige Ketema ◽

Moti Yohannes ◽

Esayas Alemayehu ◽

Argaw Ambelu

Keyword(s):

Methanolic Extract ◽

Catha Edulis ◽

Swiss Albino Mice ◽

Albino Mice

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Catha Edulis Active Principle, Cathinone, Suppresses Motor Coordination, Accelerates Anxiety and Alters the Levels of Dopamine and its Metabolites in the Limbic Areas of Male Swiss Albino Mice

Acta Pharmaceutica ◽

10.2478/acph-2018-0038 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 485-495 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mohammed M. Safhi ◽

Mohammad Firoz Alam ◽

Gulrana Khuwaja ◽

Sohail Hussain ◽

Mohammed Hakeem Siddiqui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Motor Performance ◽

Motor Coordination ◽

Elevated Plus Maze ◽

Control Group ◽

Active Principle ◽

Catha Edulis ◽

Swiss Albino Mice ◽

Elevated Plus Maze Test ◽

Plus Maze ◽

Albino Mice

Abstract Cathinone, the active principle of khat (Catha edulis), stimulates, excites and produces euphoric feelings in khat users. Locomotor and rearing activities, either individual or in groups, of male Swiss albino mice were decreased significantly compared to the control. Motor coordination tests (rotarod, rope climb and grip tests) have shown decreased motor performance in the mice treated with cathinone compared to the control. The elevated plus maze test has shown significant anxiety in the mice compared to the control. Contents of dopamine and its metabolite, homovanillic acid, were increased in the limbic areas compared to the control group. In contrast, contents of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid were depleted significantly and dose dependently compared to the control group in the limbic areas of mice. In conclusion, natural cathinone has depleted motor coordination, accelerated anxiety in mice and altered the contents of dopamine and its metabolites.

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