Effect of Catha edulis (khat) on behaviour and its potential to induce seizures in Sprague Dawley rats.
BACKGROUND
Khat is a plant whose young shoots and leaves are habitually used in Eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula as a drug of recreation. Although it is used without any control in these regions, it contains two controlled substances, cathinone (schedule I) which is present in fresh khat and cathine (schedule VI) which is a degradation product of cathinone abundant in old khat.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of khat on locomotor behaviour and seizures in rats.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
University of Nairobi.


METHODS
Adult male rats in groups of six were given fresh khat, old khat, methylphenidate and saline at varying doses and observed over three hours.


RESULTS
Fresh khat at low doses and old khat at high doses stimulated locomotor activity. High doses of fresh and old khat induced stereotype behaviour and seizures.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that khat stimulates locomotor and stereotypic behavioural activity and can induce seizures; results similar to those observed with amphetamine analogs.
Oyungu
E
E
Department of Medical Physiology, Moi University, P.O. Box 4606, Eldoret, Kenya.
Kioy
P G
PG
Patel
N B
NB
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000633:toxicity; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D029754:Catha / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D019370:Observation; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000633:toxicity; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019956:Stereotypic Movement Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013997:Time Factors
D000470:Alkaloids; D028321:Plant Preparations; D008774:Methylphenidate; C005331:norpseudoephedrine; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; C023665:cathinone