Evaluation of teratogenic potential of khat (catha edulis forsk.) In rats

Islam, M. W.; Al‐Shabanah, Othman A.; Alharbi, Metab; Al-Gharably, N. M.

doi:10.3109/01480549409064046

Cited by 45 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Retardation of growth rate was considered to be due to decreased absorption of food and not to decreased food consumption. In pregnant rats, khat reduced food consumption and maternal weight gain [18,26]. Many reports have confirmed enhanced locomotor activity with enhanced baseline aggressivity of isolated rats [27].…”

Section: Animal Studiesmentioning

confidence: 93%

Khat – a controversial plant

Bálint

Falkay

Balint

2009

Wien Klin Wochenschr

157

139

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Khat (Catha edulis) is a shrub or tree whose leaves have been chewed for centuries by people who live in the Eastern part of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It has recently turned up in North America and Europe, particularly among emigrants and refugees from countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen. Khat contains a number of chemicals, among which are two controlled substances, cathinone (Schedule I) and cathine (Schedule IV). Both chemicals are stimulant drugs with effects similar to amphetamine. Chewing the leaves makes people feel more alert and talkative, and suppresses appetite. Chewing khat leaves releases cathinone, a stimulant that produces the feeling of euphoria. When cathinone is broken down in the body, it produces chemicals including cathine and norephedrine, which have a similar structure to amphetamine and adrenaline (epinephrine). Regular khat use is associated with a rise in arterial blood pressure and pulse rate, corresponding with levels of cathinone in the plasma. Moreover, regular khat chewers have gingivitis and loose teeth, but there appears to be no convincing unusual incidence of oral cancer. Among khat users in Yemen there is, however, a higher incidence of esophageal cancer compared with gastric cancer. Long term use or abuse can cause insomnia, anorexia, gastric disorders, depression, liver damage and cardiac complications, including myocardial infarction. Manic and delusional behavior, violence, suicidal depression, hallucinations, paranoia and khat-induced psychosis have also been reported. On the basis of the scientific data it seems clear that khat use has negative consequences on the economic development of a country and on the health of the society.

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Section: Animal Studiesmentioning

confidence: 93%

Khat – a controversial plant

Bálint

Falkay

Balint

2009

Wien Klin Wochenschr

157

139

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…However, during the same period, the dose of 25 mg/kg dose did not affect this index. At the advanced stage of gestation (days [15][16][17][18][19][20] only the high dose of PZA (500 mg/kg) led to a significant decrease in the FEI compared to the control group. This dose (500 mgikg) also caused significant (P < 0.05) reduction (88.8%) in the growth index which is calculated as the mean weight/pup/litter X mean CRL/pup/litter X litter size divided by 100.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…The ovaries and uteri were removed by a cesarean section and fetal toxicity was assessed as described in previous studies [3,18]. The number of viable and non-viable fetuses, resorptions, implantations, and corpora lutea were recorded.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Teratogenic Potential of Pyrazinamide in Wistar Rats

Ms¹,

Ak²,

Islam³

1999

Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences

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We have tested Pyrazinamide (PZA), an essential component of modern short-course tuberculosis treatment regimen, for teratogenicity using Wistar rats. The drug was given by oral intubation from 6-15 days of gestation, at doses of 0, 25, 100 and 500 mgikg body weight per day. Reduction in body weight and food consumption were observed in the treated dams. On day 20 of gestation, all the dams were killed by cervical dislocation and signs of maternal toxicity, reproductive indices and fetal measurements were recorded. Dams given doses of 100 and 500 mg/kg had significantly higher incidence of reabsorbed fetuses, reduced litter size, and impaired neonatal growth than those given no PZA or only 25 mgikg dose. External visceral and skeletal examination of all fetuses of PZA-treated dams showed several types of variations which were neither dose related nor having a consistent pattern. However, these variations occurred mostly in the dams treated with the dose of 500 mg/kg.In conclusion, these data show that in Wistar rats, only high doses of PZA (100 and 500 mg/kg) produced fetotoxicity. No evidence of teratogenic effect of the drug was observed.

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“…The second study, on the other hand, reported an increased incidence of oral cancer among 25 long term khat users who were non-smokers residing in the Asir area of Saudi Arabia [10] . There is evidence that hydrolizable tannins, which are present in high amounts in khat leaves [16] may contribute to the cytotoxic, genotoxic and clastogenic effects. Tannins are defined as water-soluble polymeric phenolics that precipitate proteins.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Potential of Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) Extracts on Human T Lymphoblastoid Cell Line

Barkwan¹,

Barnett²,

Barnett³

et al. 2004

J. of Medical Sciences

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This paper reports on an investigation of the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of khat extract using a human T lymphoblastoid cell line (CEM). Exponentially growing CEM cells were cultured for 12 h in the presence of khat extract (0-2000 ug ml -1 ). Statistically significant, dose-dependent increases in; CEM cell death at dose (> 400 ug ml -1 ), in DNA damage at dose (>200 ug ml -1 ) and in micronuclei frequency, at dose (>200 ug ml -1 ) were observed. The genetic damage effects of khat extract on human cell line observed in this study could serve as a major contribution towards the understanding and creating of awareness of an increased risk of cancer amongst long-term khat consumers.

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Evaluation of teratogenic potential of khat (catha edulis forsk.) In rats

Cited by 45 publications

References 23 publications

Khat – a controversial plant

Khat – a controversial plant

Evaluation of the Teratogenic Potential of Pyrazinamide in Wistar Rats

Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Potential of Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) Extracts on Human T Lymphoblastoid Cell Line

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