Skip to main content
Log in

Catha edulis, a plant that has amphetamine effects

  • Articles
  • Published:
Pharmacy World and Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The chewing of fresh leaves of the khat bush (Catha edulis) is common in certain countries of East Africa and the Arab peninsula, because this material has a stimulating effect. During the last decade, important progress has been made in understanding the pharmacology of this drug. Its actions are mainly due to the alkaloid cathinone, a substance that can be called ‘a natural amphetamine’.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. LeBras M, Frétillère Y. Les aspects médicaux de la consommation habituelle du khat. Méd Trop 1965; 25: 720–732.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Weir S. Qat in Yemen, consumption and social change. 1985; British Museum Publications, London, United Kingdom.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Pantelis C, Hindler C, Taylor J. Use and abuse of khat: distribution, pharmacology, side effects and description of psychosis attributed to khat chewing. Psychol Med 1989; 19: 657–6898.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Eddy N, Halbach H, Isbell H, Seevers M. Drug dependence, its significance and characteristics. Bull WHO 1965; 32: 721–733.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Halbach H. Medical aspects of the chewing of khat leaves. Bull WHO 1972; 47: 21–29.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Luqman W, Danowski T. The use of khat in Yemen: social and medical observations. Ann Intern Med 1976; 85: 246–249.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kennedy J, Teague J, Fairbanks I. Qat use in North Yemen and the problem of addiction: a study in medical anthropology. Cult Med Psychiat 1980; 4: 311–344.

    Google Scholar 

  8. World Health Organisation. Expert Committee on addiction-producing drugs: khat. WHO Technol Rep Ser 1964; 273: 10.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wolfes O. Uber das Vorkommen von D-nor-iso-Ephedrin in Catha edulis. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 1930; 268: 81–83.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schorno X, Steinegger E. CNS-active phenylpropylamines of Catha edulis of Kenyan origin. Experientia 1979; 35: 572–574.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Alles G, Fairchild D, Jensen M. Chemical pharmacology of Catha edulis. J Med Pharm Chem 1961; 3: 323–352.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hofmann H, Opitz K, Schnelle H. Die Wirkung des Norpseudoephedrins. Arzneim-Forsch 1955; 5: 367–370.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Winterfeld K, Bernsmann G. Zur Kenntnis der Inhaltsstoffe von Catha edulis. Arch Pharm 1960; 63: 991–1000.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Brücke F. Uber die zentralerregende Wirkung des Alkaloides Cathin. Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol 1941; 198: 100–106.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Paris M, Moyse H. Essai de caractérisation du kat, drogue récemment inscrite au tableau B. Ann Pharm Fr 1967; 15: 89–97.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rücker G, Kröger H, Schikarski M, Qédan S. Uber die Alkaloide aus Catha edulis. Planta Med 1971; 24: 61–65.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Friebel H, Brilla R. Uber den Wirkstoff der frischen Blätter und Zweigspitzen von Catha edulis. Naturwissenschaften 193; 50: 354–355.

  18. Szendrei K. The chemistry of khat. Bull Narc 1980; 32: 5–36.

    Google Scholar 

  19. United Nations. Etudes sur la composition chimique du khat: Recherches sur la fraction phenylalkylamine. UN document MNAR/11/1975.

  20. Schorno X, Brenneisen R, Steinegger E. Qualitative und quantitative Untersuchungen über das Vorkommen ZNS-aktiver Phenylpropylamine in Handelsdrogen und über deren Verteilung in verschiedenen Organen von Catha edulis. Pharm Acta Helv 1982; 57: 168–176.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Geisshüsler S, Brenneisen R. The content of psychoactive phenylpropyl- and phenylpentenyl-khatamines in Catha edulis Forsk of different origin. J Ethnopharmac 1987; 19: 269–277.

    Google Scholar 

  22. World Health Organisation. WHO Advisory Group: Review of the pharmacology of khat. Bull Narc 1980; 32: 89–93.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Galkin V, Mironychev A. Effect of the narcotic khat (Catha edulis) on certain functions of the human body. Fedn Proc 1964; 23: T741–742.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Valterio C, Kalix P. The effect of the alkaloid cathinone on the motor activity of mice. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Thér 1982; 255: 196–203.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Foltin R, Schuster C. Behavioral tolerance and cross-tolerance to DL-cathinone and D-amphetamine in rats. J Pharmac exp Ther 1982; 222: 126–131.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kalix P, Glennon R. Further evidence for an amphetamine-like mechanism of action of the alkaloid cathinone. Biochem Pharmac 1986; 35: 3015–3019.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Johanson C, Schuster C. A comparison of the behavioral effects of L- and DL-cathinone and D-amphetamine. J Pharmac exp Ther 1981; 219: 355–362.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Yanagita T. Intravenous self-administration of cathinone and of 2-amino-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl-)phenylpropane in rhesus monkeys. Drug Alcohol Depend 1986; 17: 135–141.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Van der Schoot J, Ariens E, Van Rossum J, Hurkmans J. Phenylisopropylamine derivatives: Structure and action. Arzneim-Forsch 1962; 12: 902–907.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Brenneisen R, Fisch HU, Koelbing U, Geisshüsler S, Kalix P. Amphetaime-like effects in humans of the khat alkaloid cathinone. Br J Clin Pharmac 1990; 30: 825–828.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Widler P, Mathys K, Brenneisen R, Kalix P, Fisch HU. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of khat: a controlled study. Clin Pharmac Ther 1994; 55: 556–562.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Kalix P. The amphetamine-like releasing effect of the alkaloid cathinone on rat nucleus accumbens and rabbit caudate nucleus. Prog Neuropsychopharmac biol Psychiat 1982; 6: 43–49.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Pehek E, Schechter M, Yamamoto B. Effects of cathinone and amphetamine on the neurochemistry of dopamine in vivo. Neuropharmacology 1990; 29: 1171–1176.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Kalix P. Pharmalogical properties of the stimulant khat. Pharmac Ther 1990; 48: 397–416.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Gold M, Bowers M. Neurobiological vulnerability to low-dose amphetamine psychosis. Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135: 1546–1548.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Gendron Y, Ardouin C, Martine J. Accidents cardiovasculaires aigus déclenchés par le khat. Méd Trop 1977; 37: 69–73.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Mayberry J, Morgan G, Perkin E. Khat-induced schizophreniform psychosis in UK. Lancet 1984; 8374: 455.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Nencini P, Grassi M, Botan A, Asseyr A, Paroli E. Khat chewing spread to the Somali community in Rome. Drug Alcohol Depend 1989; 23: 255–258.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Browne D. Qat use in New York City. NIDA Research Monograph 1990; 105: 464–465.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kalix, P. Catha edulis, a plant that has amphetamine effects. Pharm World Sci 18, 69–73 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579708

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579708

Keywords

Navigation