Q

Abstract

The name qat is also spelled as quat, khat, chat, cat, kat, and kaht. All names stem from qāt, which is the Arabic name for Catha edulis Forskall, an evergreen shrub indigenous to northeast African countries and the Arabic peninsula, where it has been used at least since the 12th century. Qat tends to be classified as a mild CNS stimulant or a minor *hallucinogen. To obtain the stimulant effects of qat, the leaves and/or other parts of C. edulis are chewed or infused to make a tea. The plant’s psychoactive properties are attributed to the alkaloids cathenine, cathedine (A, B, C, and D), cathinone, and cathine. Cathine, or norpseudoephedrine, in particular, has long been held responsible for the induction of stimulant effects such as euphoria, mental alertness, suppression of appetite, and a diminished need for sleep.