Khat (Catha edulis) and ethanol co-dependence modulate seizure expression in a pentylenetetrazol seizure model

Alele, Paul E.; Rujumba, James B.

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.08.017

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 29 publications

(40 reference statements)

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“…30 Khat use has also been associated with alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, and the use of other prescription drugs. 31 As previously described, the present study showed that administration of khat, ethanol, and combined khat and ethanol chronically did not produce weight loss in the juvenile male rats ostensibly because of the short-term anorexiant efficacy of the khat extracts used; 22 there was however a trend towards weight differences by the end of the present chronic study. This was consistent with a previous study which investigated the chronic liver and hematological effects of khat leaves in a rabbit model.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…This dosing regimen was based on earlier studies that showed reliable induction of ethanol dependence and positive reinforcement by khat. 22 Additionally, because khat chewing typically occurs in the daytime, 1,6 and the maximal plasma concentrations of cathinone, a major active component of khat, appear to be delayed to approximately 2 hours after oral administration, 23 the dosing regimen was designed to mimic typical consumption in people who use both drugs concurrently. Treatments were given uninterrupted for 28 days as described under the Animal Treatment section below.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The choice of these doses of khat was based on prior related studies that showed the activity of fresh aqueous khat extracts without excessive effects, 22,25 and because the absorption of the active principles in khat users is thought to be limited by the bulk quantities of the khat leaves chewed. 3 Khat treatment was done for 28 days.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chronic khat (Catha edulis) and alcohol marginally alter complete blood counts, clinical chemistry, and testosterone in male rats

Alele¹,

Ajayi²,

Imanirampa³

2013

JEP

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Introduction Khat (Catha edulis) is a recreational psychoactive drug with psychostimulant properties. While the use of this drug is widespread in eastern Africa, including the Horn of Africa, surveys and anecdotal data show that its use has become cosmopolitan, with users now living in Europe and North America as well. Recent data in Uganda suggest an increasing pattern of simultaneous khat and ethanol use particularly among young adults. However, the effects of this pattern of use remain largely unknown, even though long-term use of either drug alone is known to be harmful. The aim of this study was to examine the toxic effects of simultaneous chronic administration of khat and ethanol on hematological parameters, clinical chemistry, and testosterone in a rat model. Methods Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of six dose groups: 2 g/kg khat; 4 g/kg khat; 4 g/kg ethanol; combined khat and ethanol (4 g/kg each); control; and an untreated group. Treatments were given by gavage twice daily for 28 days, followed by determination of hematological parameters, blood clinical chemistry, and testosterone. Results Ethanol alone significantly reduced platelet counts compared to control-, untreated and low-dose khat-treated rats; conversely low-dose khat significantly increased both the hemoglobin and hematocrit values, while ethanol alone also significantly increased the hemoglobin value compared to controls. Simultaneous khat and ethanol administration per se did not produce more toxic consequences in chronic use than either drug alone. Conclusion Chronic short-term khat use and ethanol dependence individually produce note-worthy effects on the blood, but not on clinical chemistry or testosterone. Chronic short-term combined khat and ethanol use does not produce more toxic effects compared to use of either drug alone. This provides an opportunity for appropriate clinical interventions to avert the chronic long-term effects that result from use of these drugs of abuse.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chronic khat (Catha edulis) and alcohol marginally alter complete blood counts, clinical chemistry, and testosterone in male rats

Alele¹,

Ajayi²,

Imanirampa³

2013

JEP

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“…However, seizure latency, duration of epileptic seizure and percentage of seizure protection indicated that the effectiveness of MQ EE was more than MQ WE. This may be due to synergic effect of ethanol and MQ EE as ethanol is a central nervous system depressor (Alele and Rujumba, 2011) or the content of marsiline as ethanol extract is standardized to yield marsiline (Bhattamisra et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anticonvulsant effect of Marsilea quadrifolia Linn. on pentylenetetrazole induced seizure: A behavioral and EEG study in rats

Sahu

Dutta

Mandal

et al. 2012

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

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“…The time of seizure onset, seizure duration and seizure behavior score (seizure severity) were recorded. Grading of seizure severity was done using a scoring system according to Alele and Rujumba (2011) as follows: Grade 0 : no signs of motor seizure activity during the 30 min observation period; Grade 1: staring, mouth or facial movements; Grade 2: head nodding or isolated twitches; Grade 3: unilateral/bilateral forelimb clonus; Grade 4: rearing; Grade 5: loss of posture, jumping; Grade 6: clonic/tonic seizures; Grade 7: full tonic; Grade 8: death.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activity of the leaf aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Melanthera scandens in a rat model

Twinomujuni¹,

Oloro²,

Alele³

2016

Afr. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.

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Modern drug therapy of epilepsy is complicated by the inability of drugs to control seizures in some patients and side effects that range in severity from minimal impairment of the central nervous system to death from aplastic anemia or hepatic failure. Medicinal plants used in traditional medicine for the treatment of epilepsy have been scientifically shown to possess promising anticonvulsant activities in animal models for screening for anticonvulsant activity and can be a source of newer anticonvulsants. The aim of this study was to investigate the preliminary phytochemical properties, anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activities of Melanthera scandens aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Phytochemicals from the aqueous and ethanolic extracts were screened by standard methods. Anticonvulsant activity was evaluated against pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure model in rats. The effect of the extract at oral dose levels of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg was evaluated in an experimental rat model, using diazepam (5 mg/kg) as positive control. Anxiolytic activity was performed using elevated plus maze method. Phytochemical screening revealed that M. scandens extracts contain carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, phenols and phytosterols. The aqueous extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg significantly increased seizure latency (P=0.0023), while the ethanolic extract did not have a significant effect on seizure latency. Both extracts significantly reduced the seizure severity (P= 0.0155), and provided up to 100% protection against PTZ induced death at 1000 mg/kg. Both extracts had no significant effect on the duration of PTZ induced seizures. Both extracts were found to increase the number of entries and the time spent in the open arms of the maze at a dose of 250 mg/kg, indicating anxiolytic activity, which was not seen at higher doses (500 and 1000 mg/kg). The total numbers of entries into the closed arm were significantly reduced at 500 and 1000 mg/kg oral doses of both extracts, indicating a reduction in locomotor activity of the rats. The results obtained in this study suggest that both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of M. scandens possess anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activities in a rat model.

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Khat (Catha edulis) and ethanol co-dependence modulate seizure expression in a pentylenetetrazol seizure model

Cited by 16 publications

References 29 publications

Chronic khat (Catha edulis) and alcohol marginally alter complete blood counts, clinical chemistry, and testosterone in male rats

Chronic khat (Catha edulis) and alcohol marginally alter complete blood counts, clinical chemistry, and testosterone in male rats

Anticonvulsant effect of Marsilea quadrifolia Linn. on pentylenetetrazole induced seizure: A behavioral and EEG study in rats

Anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activity of the leaf aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Melanthera scandens in a rat model

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