ScholarLens Back to search
1980•British Journal of PharmacologyOpen access

HYPERMOTILITY OF THE AMPHETAMINE TYPE INDUCED BY A CONSTITUENT OF KHAT LEAVES

Peter Kalix

Open full text 63 citations

Abstract

Khat leaves, widely used as a stimulant in East Africa and the Arab Peninsula, contain the alkaloid, (-)-cathinone. The effects of this substance on the locomotor activity of rats were compared to those of (+)-amphetamine. Both substances were found to induce a similar degree of hypermotility. Furthermore, the effect of (-)-cathinone on the locomotor behaviour of hypophysectomized rats was analogous to that reported for (+)-amphetamine in such animals. The results support the claim that the symptoms caused by the chewing of khat are amphetamine-like.

Open-access reader

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Khat leaves, widely used as a stimulant in East Africa and the Arab Peninsula, contain the alkaloid, (-)-cathinone. The effects of this substance on the locomotor activity of rats were compared to those of (+)-amphetamine. Both substances were found to induce a similar degree of hypermotility. Furthermore, the effect of (-)-cathinone on the locomotor behaviour of hypophysectomized rats was analogous to that reported for (+)-amphetamine in such animals. The results support the claim that the symptoms caused by the chewing of khat are amphetamine-like.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 63 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Khat leaves, widely used as a stimulant in East Africa and the Arab Peninsula, contain the alkaloid, (-)-cathinone. The effects of this substance on the locomotor activity of rats were compared to those of (+)-amphetamine. Both substances were found to induce a similar degree of hypermotility. Furthermore, the effect of (-)-cathinone on the locomotor behaviour of hypophysectomized rats was analogous to that reported for (+)-amphetamine in such animals. The results support the claim that the symptoms caused by the chewing of khat are amphetamine-like.

Key concepts: Amphetamine, Khat, Dextroamphetamine, Pharmacology, Traditional medicine, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Psychology

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2Related paper 3
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
HYPERMOTILITY OF THE AMPHETAMINE TYPE INDUCED BY A CONSTITUENT OF KHAT LEAVES — Research Paper | ScholarLens