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Recent advances in khat research.
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Cathinone, a newly discovered alkaloid in khat leaves, acts similarly to amphetamine. This potent stimulant is now considered the primary active compound responsible for khat
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Ethnobotany
Background:
- Khat (Catha edulis) leaves are traditionally consumed as a stimulant in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
- Previous research attributed khat's stimulant effects primarily to norpseudoephedrine.
- Emerging evidence suggests the presence of a more significant psychoactive compound.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the pharmacological properties of a newly identified alkaloid in khat, named cathinone.
- To compare the mechanism of action of cathinone with known stimulants like amphetamine.
- To determine the principal active constituent responsible for the stimulant effects of khat.
Main Methods:
- Pharmacological analysis of cathinone isolated from khat leaves.
- Comparative studies on the mechanism of action with amphetamine.
- Review of existing literature on khat's chemical constituents and their effects.
Main Results:
- Cathinone exhibits a potent pharmacological profile closely resembling that of amphetamine.
- Cathinone functions through the same mechanism of action as amphetamine, inducing the release of catecholamines.
- The study identifies cathinone as the main active constituent of khat.
Conclusions:
- Cathinone is the primary pharmacologically active alkaloid in khat leaves.
- Its amphetamine-like properties and mechanism of action explain khat's stimulant effects.
- This finding necessitates a re-evaluation of khat's psychoactive impact and traditional use.