HYPERMOTILITY OF THE AMPHETAMINE TYPE INDUCED BY A CONSTITUENT OF KHAT LEAVES
Open Access
- 1 January 1980
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in British Journal of Pharmacology
- Vol. 68 (1) , 11-13
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.1980.tb10690.x
Abstract
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.Keywords
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- ZNS-aktive Phenylpropylamine vonCatha edulis FORSK. (Celastraceae) kenyanischer HerkunftCellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 1979
- Potentiation of (+)-amphetamine-induced hypermotility in hypophysectomized ratsProgress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology, 1978
- Extractives of Catha edulis(Khat): occurrence of celastraceaeous alkaloids having mono- and bis-macrolide bridgesJournal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications, 1976
- Medical aspects of the chewing of khat leaves.1972