Catha edulis is a plant that grows in certain areas of East Africa and the Arab Peninsula. The stimulating properties of fresh material were described more than seven centuries ago and today the habit of inducing a state of euphoria and subjective well-being by chewing Catha edulis prevails among the inhabitants of these regions. Oral administration of this plant and its active constituents (cathine and cathione) on experimental animals might have stimulating effects on adrenocortical function. This was indicated by the significant decrease in adrenal cholesterol, ascorbic acid, glycogen, and the increase in adrenal phosphorylase activity. In addition, the level of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids and plasma free fatty acids were increased.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(93)90039-8 | DOI Listing |
BMC Gastroenterol
January 2025
Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Background: Liver diseases are a public health problem in developing regions, and the majority of them are asymptomatic. Evidence on the current burden of liver disease and associated context-specific risk factors is scarce in the study area, where various risk factors for liver disease, including khat chewing, smoking, and aflatoxin exposure, are common. This study was to assess the magnitude, patterns, and factors associated with liver disease among patients visiting governmental hospitals in eastern Ethiopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Public Health
January 2025
Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia.
Background: Khat chewing has become a global phenomenon, resulting in significant physical and mental health issues as well as socioeconomic crises. However, evidence is scarce on Ethiopian youths' behavioral intentions toward khat chewing, particularly in the Raya-Azebo district of the southern zone of the Tigray region. As a result, this study aimed to assess the intention to chew among youths in Raya-Azebo district, Southern Tigray, Ethiopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Background: Alcohol consumption continues to be a public health problem in Ethiopia. Previous investigations have been conducted on alcohol consumption in Ethiopia; however, these investigations were limited to specific localities, which could not represent the existing alcohol consumption in different parts of Ethiopia. Besides, the spatial variation of alcohol consumption was not well investigated in the previous studies, which could hinder the implementation of effective intervention towards alcohol consumption.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecules
December 2024
Valladolid University Foundation, Valladolid University, Paseo de Belén, 11, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
The emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in the global drug market since the 2000s has posed major challenges for regulators and law enforcement agencies. Among these, synthetic cathinones have gained prominence due to their stimulant effects on the central nervous system, leading to widespread recreational use. These compounds, often marketed as alternatives to illicit stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine, have been linked to numerous cases of intoxication, addiction and death.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIBRO Neurosci Rep
June 2025
Department of Human Anatomy and Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197- 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Khat ( Forsk), the natural source of cathinone and other psychoactive agents, is chewed by millions of persons in eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for its psychostimulant effect. Using the conditioned place preference paradigm, this study tested fresh khat extract for place preference induction, extinction, and reinstatement. Female mice treated with 100 and 250 mg/kg of khat extract showed conditioned place preference, which was extinguished following a 16-day khat-free period.
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