Clastogenic evaluation of cathinone and amphetamine in somatic cells of mice

Tariq, Mohammad; Parmar, N. S.; Qureshi, Shoeb; El‐Feraly, Farouk S.; Al-Meshal, I. A.

doi:10.1016/0165-7992(87)90048-0

Cited by 35 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…These findings were similar to those reported in mouse interstitial cells where increasing doses of 6-hydroxydopamine (Wango et al, 1995) and crude khat extract (Nyongesa et al, 2007) stimulated and then suppressed testosterone production. On the other hand, cytotoxic effect of cathinone has been reported to be responsible for androgenic deficiency in mice (Tariq et al, 1987). Perhaps of particular importance is the mitodepressive activity of khat and cathinone (Al-Meshal, 1987).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Khat (Catha edulis) lowers plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone secretion, but increases cortisol levels in male rabbits

Nyongesa

Patel

Onyango

et al. 2008

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Khat (Catha edulis) lowers plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone secretion, but increases cortisol levels in male rabbits

Nyongesa

Patel

Onyango

et al. 2008

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

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“…6,26 It is possible that the effects of khat chewing we found are due to cathinone, which was positive in bone marrow MN tests with mice as was the structurally related compound amphetamine. 5 Also, other khat constituents including polyhenolics such as tannins, which are mutagenic and carcinogenic in laboratory animals, 27-29 might account for the effects of khat. It has been speculated that tannins in khat cause thickening of the mucosa of the esophagus and esophagopharynx 30 and that these changes might lead to malignancy, 31 but no experimental support for this claim is available.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4 In bacteria, crude khat extract caused gene mutations and cathinone and crude khat extract induced structural chromosomal aberrations 5 and MN formation 6 in bone marrow cells of mice. However, no data on the potential genotoxic effects of khat in humans are available.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Khat (Catha edulis) consumption causes genotoxic effects in humans

Kassie

Darroudi

Kundi³

et al. 2001

Int. J. Cancer

123

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We used the micronucleus (MN) test to determine the genetic damage caused by khat, a widely consumed psychostimulant plant, in exfoliated cells of volunteers who chewed the drug on a regular basis. In the first study in which we compared the frequency of MN in buccal and bladder mucosa cells in 20 khat consumers (10 -160 g/day) and 10 controls, a pronounced (8-fold) increase in micronucleated buccal mucosa cells was seen among khat consumers; khat consumption did not lead to a detectable elevation of micronucleated bladder mucosa cells. Among heavy khat chewers, 81% of the MN had a centromere signal indicating that khat is aneuploidogenic. To investigate the effect of simultaneous consumption of tobacco and alcoholic beverages, we compared the MN frequency in buccal cells of 25 khat consumers (20 -85 g/day) who smoked cigarettes (15-60/day) and drank alcoholic beverages (15-80 g of pure ethanol/day) with a control group (control group I) of 25 individuals matched for age, body weight, tobacco and alcohol consumption and with another control group of 25 individuals (control group II) not consuming any of the drugs. The frequency of buccal mucosa cells with MN was higher in control group I than in group II and the effect of khat, tobacco and alcohol was found to be additive. A time-kinetics study on khat-induced MN showed that the highest frequency of MN was observed during the fourth week after consumption. In light of the large body of evidence on the close association between genetic damage and cancer, these results suggest that khat consumption, especially when accompanied by alcohol and tobacco consumption, might be a potential cause of oral malignancy. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Key words: khat; buccal mucosa; micronuclei; aneugenThe habit of khat chewing has prevailed for centuries among populations in the horn of Africa and the Arabian peninsula. The leaves of Catha edulis (commonly termed as q'at or khat) contain the natural amphetamine cathinone, which has euphoric and psychostimulant effects. 1,2 Due to its widespread consumption, the production of khat has become an important economic factor. Apart from coffee, khat is the largest cash crop in Yemen and Ethiopia. 3 It has been estimated that in Somalia and Yemen up to one-third of the family income is spent on chewing khat 2 and about 80% of the adult population of these countries are consumers of khat. In Yemen, approximately US$700 million are spent on khat, and in Somalia the annual expenditure for the khat import is about US$57 million.Toxic effects of khat in humans have been studied over the last 20 years and include multiple symptoms such as euphoria, anorexia, insomnia, gastritis, hypertension and impotence. 4 In bacteria, crude khat extract caused gene mutations and cathinone and crude khat extract induced structural chromosomal aberrations 5 and MN formation 6 in bone marrow cells of mice. However, no data on the potential genotoxic effects of khat in humans are available. It is well established that genotoxic effects lead to induction of cancer...

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“…Reduction in fertility and dose-dependent postimplantation loss but no dominant lethality was observed (Qureshi et al, 1988). However, the alkaloid produced chromosomal aberrations in rats (De Hondt et al, 1984) and in somatic cells of mice (Tariq et al, 1987). The mechanism of action is unknown at present.…”

Section: Other Endogenous Mutagens In Plantsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Molecular Modes of Action of Defensive Secondary Metabolites

Wink

Schimmer

2010

Functions and Biotechnology of Plant Secondary Metabolites

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Secondary metabolites (SM) have been shaped by evolution for more than 500 million years. As a result, many of them have distinctive biochemical and pharmacological properties. The molecular modes of action of the main groups of SM are reviewed in this chapter. Details are given on interactions of SM with proteins that can induce conformational changes and thus a modification of their bioactivity. The fluidity and permeability of biomembranes constitute another important target, which is influenced by many lipophilic and amphiphilic SM. A number of SM can either alkylate or intercalate DNA, which can cause mutations and in consequence cancer or malformations. Many SM are cytotoxic because they interfere with biomembranes, proteins of the cytoskeleton or DNA; they often induce programmed cell death (apoptosis). A large number of SM, especially alkaloids modulate neuronal signal transduction by interfering with ion channels, ion pumps, neuroreceptors, choline esterase, monoamine oxidase and other enzymes related to signal transduction pathways. A typical feature of SM is their ability to modulate more than one molecular target; thus, additive and even synergistic activities can be expected.

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Clastogenic evaluation of cathinone and amphetamine in somatic cells of mice

Cited by 35 publications

References 14 publications

Khat (Catha edulis) lowers plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone secretion, but increases cortisol levels in male rabbits

Khat (Catha edulis) lowers plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone secretion, but increases cortisol levels in male rabbits

Khat (Catha edulis) consumption causes genotoxic effects in humans

Molecular Modes of Action of Defensive Secondary Metabolites

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