Khat-induced conditioned place preference, extinction, and reinstatement in female mice

Khat (Catha edulis Forsk), the natural source of cathinone and other psychoactive agents, is chewed by millions of persons in eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for its psychostimulant effect. Using the conditioned place preference paradigm, this study tested fresh khat extract for place preference induction, extinction, and reinstatement. Female mice treated with 100 and 250 mg/kg of khat extract showed conditioned place preference, which was extinguished following a 16-day khat-free period. However, the place preference was reinstated following the first priming dose of the khat extract but not with the second priming dose done 35 days after the last conditioning treatment. The results show that khat has a rewarding/reinforcing property and can also lead to relapse behavior in persons attempting to stop khat use.