Khat

Extract of Catha edulis (khat) lowered the mitotic index in bone marrow cells of Swiss male mice at all times of exposure and in almost all the concentrations studied compared with corresponding controls. The reduction in the mitotic index revealed a mitodepressive effect of khat extract on the dividing bone marrow cells of mice. Following application of the lowest dose (125 mg/ml), 24 h was regarded the higher limit of time exposure in the experiments. After 24 h exposure and at the lowest dose (125 mg/ml) the effect of the khat extract started to decrease.

This article examines the varied perceptions of the substance miraa/khat in Kenya, from strong approval in the Nyambene Hills region where it is cultivated to the strong disapproval evident in its frequent denunciation in various segments of Kenyan society. Perceptions are colored by various local and global discourses, and it is argued that of great importance is “war on drugs” rhetoric, which allows the conflation of miraa with other substances also termed “drugs”; much of the Kenyan miraa debate revolves around just how miraa should be categorized and to whether it can be labeled a “drug.” War-on-drugs rhetoric is countered by those more enamored of the substance by discourse in which its use is labeled “traditional,” “cool,” and an “economic miracle.”

This paper gives a short biography of the Afghan-born Meccan Hanafi polymath Ali al-Qari with a descriptive list of his teachers and students followed by an itemized discussion of 109 of his works. Although he was principally a specialist of Quranic readings al-Qari touched on most of the Islamic sciences including of course Hadith, and was considered by some to be among the "renewers" of the Ummah.

This study stages an analysis of religious politics in Dar es Salaam and Tanzania from below. At its heart is an original account of Muslim political mobilisation in Tanzania that foregrounds the everyday lives of urban actors in Kariakoo, a super-dense market district at the centre of Dar es Salaam.

Under British colonial rule, Kariakoo was Dar es Salaam‟s principal African residential neighbourhood; the beating heart of the city's lively cultural scene and the cradle of Tanganyika‟s African nationalist movement. Today, Kariakoo has grown into one of the most important commercial districts in the East African region. In 2012 and 2013, it was also the site of episodes of Muslim mobilisation which led to clashes with state police and armed forces.

Drawing on rich data derived from fifteen months of ethnographic fieldwork in the neighbourhood, I ask what the everyday life of Kariakoo reveals about religious politics in Tanzania. More specifically, I use it to investigate the intersections between Muslim mobilisation, informal livelihood practices developed by urban users in response to escalating conditions of economic precarity, and popular discontent concerning entrenched inequalities and uneven development along religious lines.

By drawing together several innovative research trajectories in the fields of religious and urban studies, I am able to hold together the notions of the religious and the urban in a manner that spotlights just how integral religion is to Kariakoo as an urban ecology. The subsequent discussion reveals the remarkable dynamism of Muslim social practices and modes of affiliation when considered as numbering among the everyday livelihood practices that are employed by urban users in Kariakoo.

This study brings a more nuanced explanatory frame to bear on the contemporary realities of Muslim activism and religious politics in Tanzania and beyond than those that prevail in much academic and media commentary.

The ‘lonely/low hero’ is a personage depicted initially as a pitiful, isolated, friendless, sad orphan or foundling, but who appears to prove himself to be a powerful representative of a high-ranking family as the story unwinds. We find those personages in different genres: ritual myths, epics, charms, curses and tales. Betel chewing as a cultural practice is of great importance in the depiction of key mythological figures, lonely heroes in particular.
The paper analyses the symbolism of betel chewing as compared to other chewing practices worldwide. Philippine folklore texts are being analysed to define motifs connected to the image of a lonely hero in the folklore of the Tinguian (Itneg), Kalinga, Yattuka (Kallahan), Ifugao and other highlanders of the Northern Philippines, and compares them to corresponding themes in Philippine non-Cordilleran mythologies and beyond.
Обобщающее исследование на стыке этноботаники, этнолингвистики, культурной антропологии и фольклористики, посвященное практике, мифологии, символике бетеля и других легких жевательных стимулянтов и релаксантов в традиционной и современной культуре народов мира.

የጫት ምርት በኢትዮጵያ ባለፉት ሁለት አስርት ዓመታት ውስጥ በከፍተኛ ሁኔታ በመስፋፋቱ፣ ሀገሪቱን በጫት አምራችነት ከዓለም ፊተኛ አድርጓታል፡፡ ጫት በአሁኑ ወቅት በሰፊ የመሬት ይዞታ ላይ በብዛት ከሚተከሉ ተክሎች መካከል አንዱ ሲሆን፣ ሀገሪቱ ለውጪ ገበያ ከምትልካቸው ምርቶች መካከል ሁለተኛውን ደረጃ ሲይዝ፣ በሚሊዮኖች ለሚቆጠሩ ኢትዮጵያውያን ገበሬዎች እጅግ ጠቃሚ የገቢ ምንጭ ነው፡፡ የጫት ተጠቃሚነትም በተለምዶ ጫት ይቃምባቸው ከነበሩ ደቡባዊ እና ምስራቃዊ የኢትዮጵያ ክልሎች ወደ አብዛኛዎቹ ዋና ከተማዎች ተዛምቷል፡፡ ይህ የአምራችነት እና የተጠቃሚነት ቀጣይ እድገት የታየው የመንግስት ድጋፍ ወይም ደንብ እዚህ ግባ በማይባልበት ሁኔታ ውስጥ ነው፡፡ ሁኔታው በእንዲህ እንዳለ፣ ሲታኘክ አነቃቂ ንጥረ ነገርን የሚያመነጨው ጫት፣ ቁጥራቸው እየጨመረ በሚገኝ ሀገራት ውስጥ የተከለከለ አደንዛዥ ዕጽ እየሆነ ይገኛል፡፡ በጫት ምርት፣ ንግድ እና የጫት ምርት በመንግሥት አካላት ቁጥጥር ስር በሚውልበት ጊዜ መንግስት መዝግቦ የሚያስቀምጠውን መረጃ፣ እንዲሁም በፖለቲካው፣ ማህበራዊ፣ ምጣኔ-ሀብታዊ እንዲሁም የተከለከሉ አደንዛዥ ዕጽ ተክሎች ላይ የተመሠረተ ኢንደስትሪ የሚያስከትለው የእድገት አይነት ላይ በተሠሩ ጥናት እና ምርምሮች ላይ በመመስረት፣ ይህ ማብራሪያ ሀገሪቱ በማደግ ላይ ያለውን የጫት አምራችነት፣ የሀገር ውስጥ ፍጆታ እንዲሁም በውጪ ሀገር በወንጀል ማስከሰሱን አስመልክቶ ኢትዮጵያ ልታገናዝባቸው የሚያስፈልጉ ጉዳዮች እና ሁኔታዎችን ለይቶ አስቀምጧል፡፡ በማኅበራዊ እና ባህላዊ ልምምዶች ውስጥ ጠልቆ የዘለቀ፣ እንዲሁም የመንግሥት እና የግብርና ዐብይ ገንዘብ ማስገኛ እንደ መሆኑ፣ የኢትዮጵያ ፖሊሲ አውጪዎች ያላቸው አማራጭ ጥቂት ብቻ ነው፡፡ በውጪ ሀገራት ጫት በወንጀል የሚያስከስስ መሆኑ፣ በጫት እና ተሸጋጋሪ ወንጀል እንዲሁም በሕገ-ወጥ ዝውውር ትስስሮች መካከል ቀድሞ ያልነበረ መተሳሰር ሊፈጠር የሚችልበት እድል አናሳ ቢሆንም፣ የሚናቅ ሁኔታ አይደለም፡፡ በተመሳሳይ ሁኔታ በኢትዮጵያ ጫት ላይ እጅግ የጠበቀ አዋጅ ቢወጣ፣ ቀድሞ ከነበሩ የፖለቲካ ክፍተቶች እና ጸረ-መንግስት ስሜቶች ጋር ተያይዞ አነስተኛ የአስከፊነት መጠን ያላቸው የእርስ በርስ ግጭቶችን ሊያስከትል ይችላል፡፡

Madagascar has one of the lowest GDPs in the world. Colonization brought the country into the global economy, but left it at its margins—vulnerable to the hardships of structural adjustment and limitations of state infrastructure. This analysis reveals economic decision-making that defies the utilitarian logic of homo economicus and inspires creative thinking about alternatives to growth as a dominant paradigm. In northern Madagascar, the economy of the stimulant khat is part of one socionatural world characterized by low levels of production and consumption. Madagascar provides a case study for suggesting that "making a living" invokes an intricate web of material desires, cultural meaning, and social connections that do not necessarily revolve around a capitalist growth motive. This article proposes that a path to sustainability is not only in changing social imaginaries but also in valorizing and leveraging cognitive orientations and practices that exist but that may fall below the radar of traditional economic analysis.

Le Madagascar a un des PIB les plus bas au monde. La colonisation a ouvert le pays à l'économie mondiale, mais l'a laissé dans les marges—vulnérable aux difficultés d'ajustement structurel et aux limites des infrastructures de l'état. Cette analyse montre les prises de décisions économiques qui défient la logique utilitariste de l'homo economicus, et elles inspirent une pensée créative qui conçoit des alternatives de croissance comme paradigme prédominant. Dans le nord du Madagascar, l'économie du stimulant khat fait partie d'un des mondes socio-naturels caractérisé par de bas niveaux de production et consommation. Madagascar fournit une étude de cas qui le fait de « gagner sa vie » qui invoque un réseau de désirs matériels, de signification culturelle, ainsi que d'appartenance sociale qui ne gravitent point autour d'une motivation de croissance capitaliste. Cet article propose que le chemin vers la durabilité ne réside pas seulement dans le changement des imaginaires sociaux, mais dans la valorisation et l'appropriation d'orientations cognitives et de pratiques qui existent mais qui ne sont pas détectées dans les analyses économiques traditionnelles.

Madagascar tiene uno de los PIB más bajos del mundo. La colonización connectó el país con la economía global, pero lo dejó a sus márgenes, vulnerable a las dificultades del ajuste estructural y las limitaciones de la infraestructura estatal. Este análisis revela un caso en que la toma de decisiones económicas desafía la lógica utilitaria del homo economicus y así inspira el pensamiento creativo sobre alternativas al crecimiento como paradigma dominante. En el norte de Madagascar, la economía del khat, un estimulante, es parte de un mundo socio-natural caracterizado por bajos niveles de producción y consumo. Este caso de estudio en Madagascar sugiere que, en algunos contextos, la idea de "hacerse la vida" invoca una intrincada red de deseos materiales, significados culturales y conexiones sociales que no giran, necesariamente, alrededor de un motivo de crecimiento capitalista. Este artículo propone que uno de los caminos a la sostenibilidad no es sólo inventar nuevos imaginarios sociales sino también valorar y aprovechar las orientaciones y prácticas cognitivas que existen pero que pueden pasar desapercibidas en los análisis económicos tradicionales.

The habit of Khat-chewing has prevailed for centuries among populations in the horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The biological effects of Khat on liver are inadequately investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the histological and morphological changes in liver of rats after crude Khat extract treatment. The present study was carried out on 60 male rats for one month. They were divided into two groups (Control and treated groups). Half of each group was sacrificed after two week from the beginning of the experiment. The mean body weight of the Khat treated rats as well as their liver weights showed a significant increment (P< 0.01). Hematoxylin and Eosin staining of the liver parenchyma of Khat treated group showed abnormal architecture and widening of the central veins and portal system. The hepatic cells showed the signs of apoptosis and fatty degeneration. Immunohistochemistry by using TACS® 2 TdT DAB apoptosis detection kit indicates many apoptotic liver cells in the Khat treated group compared to the control one. In conclusion, Khat consumption could be associated with hepatic hypertrophy and hepatic disease.

Poor sleep and cognitive deficits are often associated with increased drug use. However, no study has addressed the relationship between poor sleep, substance dependence, and metacognitive deficit in polysubstance users. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a simple random sampling involving community-dwelling polysubstance users (n = 326, age = 18-43 years) in Mizan, Ethiopia. Participants completed a brief sleep questionnaire, severity of dependence on khat (SDS-Khat), a brief meta-cognition questionnaire, and a socio-demographic survey. Results: Majority (56.4%) of the polysubstance users had sleep disturbance. Chronic health conditions [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31-4.85], chronic conditions in the family (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.40-5.20), illiterate-primary level of educational status (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.30-4.04), higher SDS-Khat score (AOR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.13-1.72), and lower meta-cognition score (AOR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.84-0.97) predicted poor sleep in the polysubstance users. Moreover, low metacognition score and high SDS score also predicted additional sleep disturbances like chronic sleep insufficiency, lethargy and restlessness after nighttime sleep, socio-occupational dysfunctions, and daytime disturbances in polysubstance users. Conclusion: Poor sleep, severe khat dependence, and metacognitive deficits are common in community polysubstance users. Moreover, poor sleep is associated with higher khat dependence, lower metacognitive ability, lower educational status, and the presence of chronic conditions in polysubstance users or their families.

For close to 5 years, Yemen has been experiencing one of the worst crises it ever had, threatening the foundation of the nation as well as the survival of its population. According to the UN, 3 in 4 Yemenis need assistance and 1 in 3 are in critical need of assistance.  Having lost their sources of income and assets, most of the Yemeni households resort to difficult choices to cope with the crisis.  Coping measures include cutting down on meals and ‘non-essential’ expenditures to ensure the survival of the household. Chewing qat, however, remains unchanged and takes between 10 and 28 percent of resources on the household budget.    The author discusses the social, economic and environmental impact of qat chewing and attempts to disentangle complexities surrounding qat and examines the interplay between the qat sector, humanitarian response and the war economy in Yemen. Five aspects involving qat are of interest to the author:  (i)  the impact qat has on households economies as the result of compulsive addiction, (ii) the effects on productivity due to idleness and health-related immobilization of subjects,  (iii)  the environmental impact of qat and the potential for conflicts, especially around water resources,  and  (iv)  the relationship between qat,  aid, and the war economy.

This article examines the enormous variety evident in the ‘social life’ of Kenyan khat (miraa) and the role of this variety in the creation and manipulation of value. The article, after a discussion of the literature on value and its relevance to miraa, describes variables used in distinguishing the many different types of miraa, describes how consumers associate themselves with certain varieties and suggests why some varieties are more valued – culturally and economically – than others. The article then looks at the international trade in miraa, and how value is manipulated as exporters – well positioned to exploit different ‘fields of value’ – blend different varieties together to ensure a decent financial reward. It concludes by emphasising that understanding miraa requires an appreciation of its complex particularity.

This paper explores the factors that influence diversification into Khat production and its contribution to rural household’s income in Kenya. Using probability and non-probability sampling procedures, a sample of 125 households composed of both Khat producers and non producers was selected. Logit regression was used to estimate the factors that influence participation in Khat production while propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used to assess its contribution to rural household’s income. The factors that enhances participation are access to extension services, number of school going children, agricultural land size, household’s income and main occupation of the household head whereas the factors that hinder participation are age of the household head, distance from the main market and access to credit. Subsequently, Khat production positively contributes to the household’s income. Hence, as an alternative measure to boost the rural household’s income, Khat enterprise should be prom...

Conclusion: Khat chewing in schizophrenic patients is contraindicated because it aggravates the disease symptoms, attenuates all used treatment medications, and deteriorates all biochemical markers of the patients.

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This article explores the concept of ‘quasilegality’ in relation to two of Africa’s drug crops: khat and cannabis. It argues that the concept is useful in understanding the two substances and their ambiguous relation to the statute books: khat being of varied and ever-changing legal status yet often treated with suspicion even where legal, while cannabis is illegal everywhere in Africa yet often seems de facto legal. The article argues that such quasilegality is socially significant and productive, raising the value of such crops for farmers and traders, but also allowing states to police or not police these substances as their interests and instincts dictate. It also argues that there is no clear link between the law on the statute book and the actual harm potential of these substances. Finally, it suggests that the concept has much wider use beyond these case studies of drugs in Africa in a world where global consensus on drug policy is cracking, and where many other objects of trade and activities find themselves in the blurred territory of the quasilegal.

The habit of Khat-chewing has prevailed for centuries among populations in the horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It represents a major socio-economic problem in many countries. The biological effects of Khat on the kidney are inadequately investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the histological and morphological changes in kidney of rats after crude Khat extract treatment. The present study was carried out on 60 male rats for one month. They were divided into two groups (Control and treated groups). Half of each group was sacrificed after two weeks from the beginning of the experiment. Khat treated rats showed non-significant differences (P< 0.01) in their kidney weights (gm/ 100gm BW).Hematoxylin and Eosin stained sections of the kidney parenchyma of Khat treated group showed abnormal architecture of the kidney parenchyma, congestion and atypical tubules. Degenerative changes in the renal tubules were also observed. Immunohistochemistry by using TACS® 2 TdT DAB apoptosis detection kit indicates many apoptotic cells in the parenchyma of the kidney of Khat treated group compared to the control one; specially in the Malpighian corpuscles. In conclusion, Khat consumption could be associated with histopathological changes in the kidney and renal diseases.

Resumen Context: Consumption of khat leaves has been disseminated worldwide with the migration of its users from Arabia and Africa. Despite numerous reports regarding the associations of khat chewing with serious health impacts, a significant number of people worldwide uses khat daily, especially in its origin countries. The risk of coadministration of khat and drugs (prescription and over the-counter medications) is high among these individuals, leading to increase probability of adverse khat-drug interactions. The likelihood of khatdrug interactions could be higher than drug-drug interactions because drugs usually contain single chemical entities while almost all herbs (including khat) contain mixtures of pharmacologically active constituents. Aims: To review the literatures on how khat interacts with some drugs and whether it is favorable or not. Methods: The study was conducted as a systematic review. The electronic literature searches were made in Google search engine to access...

Catha edulis Forsk leaves (Khat) is a flowering plant. A high proportion of the adult population in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa chews it for its mild stimulant effect. The aim of the current study was to investigate the embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of the Khat extract using 60 female pregnant rats. These were divided to a Khat extract treated group and a control group. Methanolic extract of Khat was orally given to the treated group 4 days before mating and up to day 16 of pregnancy with a dose of 100 mg/kg. Our results showed that significant number of embryos of the Khat-treated mothers were malformed and different in size and shape compared to embryos from the mothers of the control group. At day 8 of pregnancy, malformed embryos had ill developed primitive layers. By day 10 of pregnancy, neural tube and the somite were not formed compared to the control embryos. At later stages of pregnancy, embryos of the Khat-treated mothers appeared severely abnormal with opened neural groove and visceral pouches. Disrupted normal neural tube development, undifferentiated brain vesicles, incomplete closure of the brain flexures were also observed in these embryos. Highly significant increase in the number of the resorbed embryos of the Khat-treated mothers were observed (P < 0.01). The resorbed embryos appeared as a cellular collection in their placenta with some of their decidua had no visible embryonic tissues. In conclusions, Khat induced embryotoxic effects as well as severely affected the early normal embryonic development in rat.

The article describes a new drug (in Poland) called khat, but known on the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea) for thousands of years, where chewing the Catha edulis plant (khat) has a long history of social custom. The effects of use of this drug are similar to the effects of the amphetamines: khat induces euphoria and strong stimulation. The drug comes from Africa, but for several decades has been popular in other regions of the world, especially inhabited by African immigrants. The media report frequent identification of khat in Poland. Synthetic derivatives of this plant have been identified in new psychoactive substances called " legal highs ". The occurrence of new drugs in Poland should be a new challenge for preventive medical services responsible for informing the public in order to suppress the development of new dangerous behaviors. A careful observation of attitudes and behaviors of people who use khat may favor the demarcation of new lines of prevention activities.

Intro: Locating their study within the 'war on drugs' paradigm, Carrier and Klantschning seek to appraise the moral panic and fear rhetoric that grew out of President Nixon's 1972 concatenation of policing with military intervention. The War on Drugs was the product of the post cold-war reorientation by the Western bureaucracy of threat management, towards countering the drug trade in the scramble to find a new enemy and both deploy, and continue to develop, military technologies of surveillance and attack, and to justify budgeting and staffing into the future.

The use of khat (Catha edulis) while on medication may alter treatment outcome. In particular, the influence of khat on the metabolic activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes is not known. We performed a comparative 1-way crossover study to evaluate the effect of khat on cytochrome P450 (CYP)2D6 and CYP3A4 enzyme activity. After 1 week of khat abstinence, baseline CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 metabolic activities were determined in 40 Ethiopian male volunteers using 30 mg dextromethorphan (DM) as a probe drug and then repeated after 1 week of daily use of 400 g fresh khat leaves. Urinary concentrations of cathinone and cathine were determined to monitor the subjects&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; compliance to the study protocol. Genotyping for CYP2D6*3 and CYP2D6*4 was done. Plasma DM, dextrorphan and 3-methoxymorphinan concentrations were quantified. CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 enzyme activities were assessed by comparing plasma log DM/dextrorphan and log DM/methoxymorphinan metabolic ratio (MR) respectively in the presence and absence of khat. Cytochrome 2D6 MR was significantly increased from baseline by concurrent khat use (paired t test, P = 0.003; geometric mean ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.12-1.53). Moreover, the inhibition of CYP2D6 activity by khat was more pronounced in CYP2D6*1/*1 compared with CYP2D6*1/*4 genotypes (P = 0.01). A marginal inhibition of CYP3A4 activity in the presence of khat was observed (P = 0.24). The mean percentage increase of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 MR from baseline by khat use was 46% (95% CI, 20-72) and 31% (95% CI, 8-54), respectively. This is the first report linking khat use with significant inhibition of CYP2D6 metabolic activity in humans.

Khat is widely consumed in Kenya. It contains cathinone, a psychoactive alkaloid, whose health effects are similar to those of amphetamine. A descriptive study was done among men in a remote Kenyan town on consumption of khat. We administered semi-structured questionnaires. Of those interviewed, 68% chewed khat, and of those who chewed, half did so on a daily basis. Most prefer to chew it in the company of their friends and age mates, accompanied by soda, sweet tea, and cigarettes. Those employed were three times more likely to chew khat compared to those unemployed (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.03-7.6). A plausible reason is that they have regular sources of income to buy khat. Most respondents were knowledgeable about the health effects of khat, with a third reporting mental health problems. The major social consequences of khat chewing reported were negligence of responsibility by men, family break-up, promiscuity, and impotence. The consumption of khat may increase in the near future, given that a high proportion of the males in this district are below 19 years. This cohort will gradually finish school and gain employment. There may be need to put in place health education programs and provide recreational facilities targeting this group and those already chewing khat in this resource-limited setting.

This in vivo random experimental animal study was conducted to evaluate the acute effects of crude Catha edulis extract on mesenteric blood flow velocity in guinea pigs. A total number of 10 guinea pigs were used. Superior mesenteric blood flow velocity was measured byUltrasound Doppler flow meter. This was tested by placingitsflow meter probe (4 Hz) between 45 and 60 degrees on superiormesenteric blood vessels.Blood flow velocitywas recorded digitally for half an hour following normal saline administration as baseline; while0.2ml Catha edulis extract solution infusion as treatment and recorded for 1hour. Results showed significant increasedsystolic and diastolic blood flow velocities in response to Cathaedulis extract infusion as compared to the base line.The significant increasedsystolic and diastolic blood flow velocities and the corresponding increase in resistance in superior mesenteric blood vessels in guinea pigs enable us to conclude that khat chewing could decreasethe volum...

Background: Khat contains the amphetamine-like cathinone, and can trigger onset of schizophrenia and exacerbate pre-existing psychosis. However, it remains unknown whether the use of khat complicates the outcome of schizophrenia treatment. Aims: We tested the hypothesis that patients with schizophrenia who are using khat will fail to respond to standard antipsychotic treatment. Methods: We retrospectively studied a consecutive series of patients who presented to an adult psychiatric clinic in Al-Amal Psychiatric Hospital in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016. Patients with newly diagnosed schizophrenia on antipsychotic monotherapy (n = 1007, 817 men) were included and categorized into khat and non-khat users. A khat chewing index was developed to further categorize low, mild, moderate and heavy khat users. Antipsychotic medications were reviewed to determine their potential and the cause of substitution in association with khat use. Results: There wer...

The leaves of khat shrub have a stimulating effect, and the chewing of this material has been practiced for many centuries in certain areas of East Africa and Arabian Peninsula. Khat is widely consumed among the youth of Ethiopia; especially among high school, College and University students as well as drivers. The active ingredient of khat responsible for its psycho stimulant effect is an alkaloid chemical known as cathinone, which is structurally and chemically similar to d-amphetamine, and cathine, a milder form of cathinone. Cathinone is a highly potent stimulant, which produces central nervous system stimulation analogous to the effect of amphetamine. The major effects of khat chewing include those on the gastro-intestinal system and on the nervous system. The negative effects of khat also include increased blood pressure, tachycardia, insomnia, anorexia, constipation, urine retention, irritability and impaired sexual potency in men. This review highlights the chemistry of khat...

The habit of Khat-chewing has prevailed for centuries among populations in the horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The biological effects of Khat on liver are inadequately investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the histological and morphological changes in liver of rats after crude Khat extract treatment. The present study was carried out on 60 male rats for one month. They were divided into two groups (Control and treated groups). Half of each group was sacrificed after two week from the beginning of the experiment. The mean body weight of the Khat treated rats as well as their liver weights showed a significant increment (P&lt; 0.01). Hematoxylin and Eosin staining of the liver parenchyma of Khat treated group showed abnormal architecture and widening of the central veins and portal system. The hepatic cells showed the signs of apoptosis and fatty degeneration. Immunohistochemistry by using TACS® 2 TdT DAB apoptosis detection kit indicates many apoptotic liver...

People widely chew khat, particularly in East Africa, for different purposes but there is no consistent data showing its effect on anorexia and weight. This study was made to add to the existing body of knowledge about khat and its effect on weight. A total of 50 albino mice, 6-8 weeks old, were administered orally with a single daily dose of khat extract for 30 days. The animals were divided into 4 groups. The first group served as controls and was administered with 0.5 ml 3% Tween 80 in water. Group two (K100), three (K200) and four (K300) were administered 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg khat extract, respectively.  The effect of crude khat extract on weight was measured and analyzed using One-way ANOVA. The result showed that acute administration of crude khat extract at doses used did have a significant effect on weight on all the three groups (khat administered) (p&lt; 0.01) but there was no significant weight difference among the three groups. After the fourth days, this weight decrea...