THE EFFECT OF THE ALKALOID (-)CATHINONE ON THE MOTOR-ACTIVITY OF MICE

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  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 255  (2) , 196-203
Abstract
Khat [Catha edulis] leaves, a stimulant [drug of abuse] used in East Africa and the Arab Peninsula, contain the alkaloid (.sbd.)cathinone. This substance caused an increase of locomotor activity in mice characterized by a dose-effect relationship typical for amphetamine. The effect of (.sbd.)cathinone was inhibited by pretreatment with the neuroleptics haloperidol, spiroperidol, pimozide, flupentixol and butaclamol. Pretreatment with reserpine moderately; reduced the effect of (.sbd.)cathinone; in reserpinized mice the effect of (.sbd.)cathinone was antagonized by the uptake inhibitors mazindol and nomifensine. Evidently, the pharmacology of (.sbd.)cathinone hypermotility closely parallels that of amphetamine hypermotility, and the stimulating properties of khat leaves are due to the presence of an alkaloid with amphetamine-like effects.