Hypermotility of the amphetamine type induced by a constituent of khat leaves.
Khat leaves, widely used as a stimulant in East Africa and the Arab Peninsula, contain the alkaloid, (-)-cathinone. The effects of this substance on the locomotor activity of rats were compared to those of (+)-amphetamine. Both substances were found to induce a similar degree of hypermotility. Furthermore, the effect of (-)-cathinone on the locomotor behaviour of hypophysectomized rats was analogous to that reported for (+)-amphetamine in such animals. The results support the claim that the symptoms caused by the chewing of khat are amphetamine-like.
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013997:Time Factors
D000470:Alkaloids; D011427:Propiophenones; C023665:cathinone; D003913:Dextroamphetamine