SUMMARY

            Chewing of Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) stimulates the neurons of the consumer.  Fresh leaves of Khat being chewed has a close structural similarity with amphetamine. Both amphetamine and  Khat shares common pharmacodyanamic features. Cathonine is the most important active ingredient of khat, causing the major pharmacological effects. The side effects are insomnia, anorexia and hyperthermia. Elavated blood pressure and tachycardia are the detrimental effects of the active principle of khat in men and animals. Khat also has reported to produce constipation and astispasmodic action.        

            Catha edulis leaves were regularly obtained from Yemen mountains by which precipitation is limited by less than 3061m/hr. It ranges once to twice a month and the supporting soils are yafeh sandstone and limestone soils. Daily sunlight intensity during experimentation period were 6 hours/day. Mean average temperature is below 20C and the plant used is 10years old. The insecticides used are heptachlor and potassium Chloride was used for protection and nutrition purpose. 3g/kg washed leaves was used for experimentation purposes.                

            The level of serum glucose at 1-4 hours after lunch of normal individuals khat chewers were significantly different when compared with respective values at the 2, 3 and 4hours after lunch (according to the graph). Some results suggest that the fact khat may increase glucose production via activation of glycogenesis in muscles which increases blood glucose by an indirect mechanism through increased glycolysis and subsequent release of lactate. Lactate is then transported to the liver where it serves as a glucogenic substract. Hormone sensitive lipase which hydrolyzes tissues triacylglycerol into free fatty acids and glycerols are released into the blood circulation due to the increase of peripheral norepinephrine. This then is transported to the liver where glycerol acts as energy sources for glucose synthesis by the liver.

            In my opinion, through the results all levels of Catha edulis leaves tested leaves consumption shows a significant decrease in plasma glucose. Through the observation, healthy khat chewers have 61, 22% reduction in blood sugar within 4 hours khat chewing.