Khat Chemistry

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T he early period of the studies of khat chemistry started in 1887 when Fluckiger considered the possibility of the presence of caffeine in Qat as a stimulant principle (Fluckiger and Gerock., 1887).
The bud of khat also contains the chemical called cathinone and cathine. Cathinone is more lipids soluble than cathine also it can easily across the brain blood barrier and enter in the central nervous system that is responsible for adverse effect on the body. Similarly, it also has amphetamine like structure and also causes similar effect on the body. Khat is chewed daily by a large proportion of adult population for its Central Nervous System stimulant effect. Besides, it is widely masticated among young Ethiopians, especially high school, college …show more content…

Khat constituents were isolated and identified, they include the following components:
I- Cathinone:
Cathinone is the primary constituent of Khat (UNDCP, 1996; WHO, 2006). Cathinone is found mainly in the young leaves and shoots. Cathinone is metabolised to cathine [ (+) – norpseudoephedrine] during maturation in a ratio approximately 4:1 (UNDCP, 1996; WHO, 2006).
Cathinone is the Khat most central nervous system (CNS) stimulant active ingredient. Isolate and synthesized cathinone have shown similar effects to amphetamine though it has lowered potent. Fresh khat leaves contains cathinone amount ranging from 78-343mg/100g. The level of cathinone decreases with storage time. When khat leaves are dried, the psychoactive substance cathinone decomposes to within 48 hours,leaving psychoactive chemical cathine. Scientific studies confirm than cathinone effects are significantly if not completely diminished if the plant material is dried slowly Cathinone is more potent to cathine by 7-10 times when it regards to central nervous system stimulation. Cathinone is difficult to synthesize hence not appropriate for marketing in form of a pure substance (Nencini et al.,

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