Khat, a Cultural Chewing Drug: A Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic Summary
Khat (<i>Catha edulis</i>) is a recreational, chewed herbal drug that has been used as a psychostimulant for centuries in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, namely in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen. However, the growing worldwide availability of khat has produced widespread concern. Th...
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/14/2/71 |
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| author | Bárbara Silva Jorge Soares Carolina Rocha-Pereira Přemysl Mladěnka Fernando Remião on behalf of The OEMONOM Researchers |
| author_facet | Bárbara Silva Jorge Soares Carolina Rocha-Pereira Přemysl Mladěnka Fernando Remião on behalf of The OEMONOM Researchers |
| author_sort | Bárbara Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Khat (<i>Catha edulis</i>) is a recreational, chewed herbal drug that has been used as a psychostimulant for centuries in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, namely in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen. However, the growing worldwide availability of khat has produced widespread concern. The plant comprises a large number of active substances, among which cathinone, cathine, and norephedrine are the main constituents, which can be included in the group of sympathomimetics of natural origin. In fact, these compounds are amphetamine analogues, and, as such, they have amphetamine-like nervous system stimulant effects. Chewing the leaves gives people a sensation of well-being and increases energy, alertness, and self-confidence. The chronic use of khat is, however, associated with severe cardiac, neurological, psychological, and gastrointestinal complications. The psychological dependence and withdrawal symptoms of khat are the reasons for its prolonged use. The aim of this paper is to review current knowledge on the khat plant with toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic perspectives. Namely, this review paper addresses in vitro, in vivo, and human studies. The models used, as well as the concentrations and doses with the respective biological effects, are discussed. Additionally, the main drug interactions involved with khat are described. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:56:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90d7be232a414d35a792ca9cc8c3fd39 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:56:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-90d7be232a414d35a792ca9cc8c3fd392023-11-23T22:20:54ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512022-01-011427110.3390/toxins14020071Khat, a Cultural Chewing Drug: A Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic SummaryBárbara Silva0Jorge Soares1Carolina Rocha-Pereira2Přemysl Mladěnka3Fernando Remião4on behalf of The OEMONOM ResearchersUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUINTE, Toxicology Laboratory, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUINTE, Toxicology Laboratory, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUINTE, Toxicology Laboratory, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech RepublicUCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUINTE, Toxicology Laboratory, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalKhat (<i>Catha edulis</i>) is a recreational, chewed herbal drug that has been used as a psychostimulant for centuries in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, namely in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen. However, the growing worldwide availability of khat has produced widespread concern. The plant comprises a large number of active substances, among which cathinone, cathine, and norephedrine are the main constituents, which can be included in the group of sympathomimetics of natural origin. In fact, these compounds are amphetamine analogues, and, as such, they have amphetamine-like nervous system stimulant effects. Chewing the leaves gives people a sensation of well-being and increases energy, alertness, and self-confidence. The chronic use of khat is, however, associated with severe cardiac, neurological, psychological, and gastrointestinal complications. The psychological dependence and withdrawal symptoms of khat are the reasons for its prolonged use. The aim of this paper is to review current knowledge on the khat plant with toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic perspectives. Namely, this review paper addresses in vitro, in vivo, and human studies. The models used, as well as the concentrations and doses with the respective biological effects, are discussed. Additionally, the main drug interactions involved with khat are described.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/14/2/71cathinonecathinekineticstoxicologyamphetamine-likenorpseudoephedrine |
| spellingShingle | Bárbara Silva Jorge Soares Carolina Rocha-Pereira Přemysl Mladěnka Fernando Remião on behalf of The OEMONOM Researchers Khat, a Cultural Chewing Drug: A Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic Summary Toxins cathinone cathine kinetics toxicology amphetamine-like norpseudoephedrine |
| title | Khat, a Cultural Chewing Drug: A Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic Summary |
| title_full | Khat, a Cultural Chewing Drug: A Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic Summary |
| title_fullStr | Khat, a Cultural Chewing Drug: A Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic Summary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Khat, a Cultural Chewing Drug: A Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic Summary |
| title_short | Khat, a Cultural Chewing Drug: A Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic Summary |
| title_sort | khat a cultural chewing drug a toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic summary |
| topic | cathinone cathine kinetics toxicology amphetamine-like norpseudoephedrine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/14/2/71 |
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