Proconvulsant effect of khat (Catha edulis) in Sprague dawley rats

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

“…Recent studies have shown that fresh aqueous khat extract at an intermediate dose (3 g/kg) to the doses used in this study, lowered PTZ seizure thresholds (Oyungu et al, 2009), and stimulated locomotor activity and induced seizures. It is thought that the alkaloid cathinone is a potent amphetamine-like compound that modulates the release of catecholamines from storage sites in the synaptic terminal (for reviews, see Kalix, 1984and Feyissa and Kelly, 2008.…”

“…Two animals in the 4 g/kg of khat group, and one animal in the control group died during the feeding period and were excluded from these data. 10 animals/group was chosen based on previous studies with PTZ that showed a high variability in some of the seizure responses measured (Alele and Devaud, 2007), and on our expectation that the psychostimulant khat would be proconvulsant (Oyungu et al, 2009). Outliers in the seizure responses studied were determined using Grubbs' method (extreme studentized deviate) and excluded to avoid minimizing the mean responses and the F-statistic; thus, smaller group sizes are reported than the initial sample size.…”

Botanicals and Herbs: A Traditional Approach to Treating Epilepsy

“…28 The extract of star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) may cause seizures in uremic patients 29 ; it is used to induce seizures experimentally, 30 as is the extract from Catha edulis (khat), whose fresh young leaves are used recreationally by an estimated 5 million people in eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. 31 Likewise, an extract of a Chinese herbal therapy for schizophrenia (Coriaria lactone, which is made from the active parts of the plant Loranthus on coriaria sinica Maxim) is the basis of a rat model for pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy. 32 The pharmacokinetic interactions between herbal therapies and drugs, including AEDs, have been inadequately studied.…”

“…32 The pharmacokinetic interactions between herbal therapies and drugs, including AEDs, have been inadequately studied. Available evidence suggests that St. John's wort, 33 garlic, echinacea (various Echinacea species), pine bark extract (Pinus pinaster; also known as pycnogel, Pygenol, or Pycnogenol), milk thistle (Silybum species), American hellebore (Veratrum viride), ginkgo, 10,11 mugwort (Artemisia species), and pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) affect the cytochrome P450 system and could therefore potentially affect serum concentrations of hepatically metabolized AEDs, [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] perhaps with fatal consequences. 10 …”

Oromandibular dystonia in Yemeni patients with khat chewing: a response to botulinum toxin treatment

“…11 It also affects sleep, leading to rebound effects and excessive day-time sleepiness, 12 and lower seizure threshold. 13 In our practice, there are mounting evidences that could suggest a causal relationship between khat and development of oromandibular dystonia (OMD).…”