Catha edulis Extract Induces H9c2 Cell Apoptosis by Increasing Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Activation of Mitochondrial Proteins

Cathine and cathinone disposition kinetics and neurotransmitter profile in several organs of rats exposed to a single dose of Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk. ex Endl. extract

OBJECTIVES

Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk. ex Endl. (Khat) is a stimulant plant that contains cathine and cathinone, which its abuses induce euphoria, alertness, and motor activity. Since the toxicokinetics of these substances remain unclear, this study was carried out to investigate the disposition kinetics of cathine and cathinone, the neurotransmitter profile, following a single dose of C. edulis extract in rats.

METHODS

Twenty-four adult male Wistar albino rats (250-300 g) were randomly selected and divided into six groups of four rats each. All groups received a single oral dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight, and blood and tissue samples from the brain, lung, heart, liver, and kidney were obtained at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 12, and 24 h. The cathine and cathinone concentrations were identified and quantified using ion trap ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-IT/MS). The neurotransmitter profile was detected using the quadrupole time of flight UPLC-QTOF/MS method.

RESULTS

The lung, liver, and heart tissues attained the highest levels of cathine, while the highest level of cathinone was determined in the heart. Cathine and cathinone concentrations in the blood and heart peaked at 0.5 h. The concentrations peaked in the brain 2.5 h later, indicating that the heart had an immediate effect, whereas the brain had a longer-lasting one. They have longer half-lives (2.68 and 5.07 h, respectively) and may remain in the brain for longer durations (3.31 and 2.31 h, respectively). The neurotransmitters epinephrine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin were detected in a delayed, prolonged and organ-specific manner.

CONCLUSIONS

Cathine and cathinone were deposited in considerable concentrations in all tissues analyzed, with the highest C_max in the lung and T_max in the heart tissues but not in the brain. In addition, neurotransmitters such as adrenaline, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin were differentially detected in all tested samples in a organ-specific fashion. More study is needed to identify cathine and cathinone's effects on neurotransmitter profiles. Nevertheless, these findings provided a further basis for experimental, clinical, and forensic investigations.

Khat (Catha Edulis Forsk) induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity in cultured cells: A scoping review

Background

Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) leaves are chewed by people in certain regions of East Africa and the Middle East for their stimulating amphetamine-like effects. The purpose of this scoping review is to systematically map the current in vitro publications that investigated the toxicological potential effects of khat on cultured human or animal cells in terms of cellular viability and activity.

Methods

A comprehensive electronic database search was undertaken up to December 2020 without starting date or language restrictions in accordance with the PRISMA extension for scoping review guideline and methodological quality evaluation based on the guidelines for reporting pre-clinical in vitro studies on dental materials. All in vitro studies that investigated the effect of khat plant extract (Catha Edulis) on the cultured human or animal cells were included.

Results

The initial search yielded 599 articles and 16 articles were finally selected to be included. The treatment of cells with khat produced different degrees of cellular changes, including decreased cellular survival, induction of apoptosis, increased ROS production, alteration of cell phenotype, and of arrest cell cycle. In this contest, khat-exposed cells expressed higher levels of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and lower levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, up-regulated p38, p53, p16, and p21 proteins, as well as premature expression of differentiation markers.

Conclusion

Based on the current scoping review, khat induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity in cultured human cells, including oral cells.

Qualitative ultrastructural analysis of the submandibular salivary glands after administration of khat: in vivo study

Objective

Khat (Catha edulis Forssk) plant has been widely chewed for its psychostimulatory effects in the African and Arabian Peninsula, particularly in Yemen. Considering the khat leaves are gradually chewed without swallowing, while its active constituents are extracted into saliva, studying the effect of khat on salivary glands is necessary. This work is an extension of the previously published work that studied the effect of khat extract on the rats' submandibular salivary glands in terms of histological and immunohistochemical evaluations. The current research note aimed to better understand this effect on the ultrastructure of submandibular salivary gland cells by using transmission electron microscope.

Results

Oral administration of khat extract produced degenerative changes in the secretory and ductal cells of rats' submandibular salivary glands. These changes involved irregular boundaries of variable sized-nuclei, dilated RER, cytoplasmic vacuoles as well as swollen and degenerated mitochondria.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-021-05595-8.

Unraveling the Catha edulis Extract Effects on the Cellular and Molecular Signaling in SKOV3 Cells

Khat (Catha edulis (Vahl) Endl.) is an evergreen flowering shrub used as a stimulant in many regions worldwide including East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Europe, and the United States. Chewing leaves of khat induces excitement and euphoria, which are primarily attributed to two major constituents, cathinone and cathine. Khat also contains other important constituents such as cathedulins. A considerable number of studies reported side effects induced by the khat extracts to both embryos and adults. These include teratogenicity and developmental retardation, oral cancer and ulcers, high blood pressure, and myocardial infarction. So far, little attention has been paid to the effects of khat extracts on the molecular signaling interactions. We aimed in this study to investigate this through evaluating the effects of khat extracts on SKOV3, a human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line. We show, by in vitro assays, that khat induces several cellular defects including reduced cell size, cell membrane damage, and apoptosis. At high khat extract concentrations, the cell metabolic activity, cell cycle, and cellular proliferation were affected. RT-qPCR analysis showed an increase in the gene expression of the apoptotic marker BAX, the tumor suppressor p53, and the inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Protein expression analysis by immunostaining showed downregulation of β-catenin, E-cadherin, and Ki-67 and upregulation of FZD8 and SPRY2, suggesting that Wnt and FGF signaling were implicated. SwissTargetPrediction in silico analysis showed that khat constituents cathine, cathinone, catheduline K2, and catheduline E5 bind to family A G-protein-coupled receptor, cause many neurological diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, and induce many ovarian cancer-related diseases. The analysis also showed that important signaling pathways such as CREB, Wnt, FGF, IL-6, and ERK/MAPK, and that of the endometrial cancer, and cell cycle were implicated. Upstream regulators of cathine and cathinone were found to potentially target several molecules including interleukin-8, MMP2, PLAU, and micro-RNAs. In conclusion, khat induces significant cellular and molecular changes that could potentially cause a wide range of serious diseases and syndromes. Such an impact could have a heavy burden on the health care system in the countries where khat is consumed.

Analysis of amphetamine and methamphetamine contents in seized tablets from Jazan, Saudi Arabia by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) and chemometric techniques

A number of illegal amphetamine tablets were seized from three different cities of Jazan province of southern Saudi Arabia and were analyzed for amphetamine and methamphetamine contents using LC-MS/MS technique. Analyses were performed using a previously reported method taking 0.1 M ammonium formate buffer (85%) and 15% acetonitrile with 0.1% formic acid as mobile phase with a total runtime of 12 min. This method was successfully applied for the routine analysis of amphetamine and methamphetamine in the seized tablets using amphetamine-D5 and methamphetamine-D5 as internal standards. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to establish the similarity between samples. The retention times (RT) for internal standard, amphetamine and methamphetamine were observed to be within 6.0–7.1 min. Ten tablet samples from each city were subjected to analysis and the amount of amphetamine in all the samples were found to be in the range of 9.07–14.77 mg, whereas, the amount of methamphetamine ranged from 0.12 to 0.24 mg in each tablet. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed presence of five clusters of samples indicating different characteristics and possible sources of amphetamine tablets. The largest cluster consisted of 15 samples which are expected to be of the same origin. Both amphetamine and methamphetamine are considered to be illegal products and their illegal trade and use is banned in many countries including Saudi Arabia. Therefore, there is an urgent need of strict regulations worldwide to check the illicit trafficking of these psychoactive substances and should be considered on priority.

Khat Induced Toxicity: Role on Its Modulating Effects on Inflammation and Oxidative Stability

Long-term khat (Catha edulis Forsk.) chewing has negative effects on human body. Khat constituents appear to be capable of disturbing the delicate equilibrium between damaging and protective mechanisms of a cell that is essential for optimal activity, thereby producing oxidative damage. Therefore, the current study was designed to understand the role of khat on cell toxicity, oxidative stability, and inflammation. Khat was extracted using 60% methanol and assessed calorimetrically for its phenolic and flavonoid contents. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were used to assess the antioxidant properties. Lipopolysaccharide and interferon gamma induced murine monocytic macrophages cell line (RAW 264.7) were used to assess khat effects on cellular inflammation, oxidative stability, and viability. Khat possesses high content of polyphenols and flavonoids. The results showed a strong potency of antioxidants in DPPH, ORAC, and FRAP assays. Khat decreases the production of the proinflammatory nitric oxide and induces cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species inhibition. Heavy khat consumption induced-toxicity and symptoms are probably due the harmful effects of its polyphenolic contents.

Baicalin modulates NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in porcine aortic vascular endothelial cells Infected by Haemophilus parasuis Causing Glässer's disease

Haemophilus parasuis (H. parasuis) can cause vascular inflammatory injury, but the molecular basis of this effect remains unclear. In this study,we investigated the effect of the anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant agent, baicalin, on the nuclear factor (NF)-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in pig primary aortic vascular endothelial cells. Activation of the NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway was induced in H. parasuis-infected cells. However, baicalin reduced the production of reactive oxygen species, apoptosis, and activation of the NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in infected cells. These results revealed that baicalin can inhibit H. parasuis-induced inflammatory responses in porcine aortic vascular endothelial cells, and may thus offer a novel strategy for controlling and treating H. parasuis infection. Furthermore, the results suggest that piglet primary aortic vascular endothelial cells may provide an experimental model for future studies of H. parasuis infection.

Catha edulis Forsk. (Khat): Evaluation of its Antidepressant-like Activity

BACKGROUND

Catha edulis Forsk. (Khat) is traditionally used for treating various disorders. Nevertheless there are no reports of any scientific assessment of its psychopharmacological properties.

OBJECTIVE

Therefore, the current study was designed to evaluate the antidepressant-like activity of Khat ethanolic extract using established animal models of depression and stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety healthy male albino mice were used in this study. Forced swim, tail suspension and head poking tests were utilized to evaluate the antidepressant-like activity of the ethanolic extract of Khat (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.) and escitalopram (standard drug) which were administered 30 min prior to the tests. Phytochemical analysis of the standardized extract was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS).

RESULTS

A significant decrease in the head-dipping behavior was noticed after administration of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of Khat extract. Moreover, the extract significantly decreased the immobility time in tail suspension and forced swim tests. The presence of cathinone and cathine were detected in the extract using LC-MS.

CONCLUSION

The current results suggest that the extract of Khat leaves has acute antidepressant properties and may have sedative effects.

SUMMARY

Antidepressant-like activity of Khat established in vivoThe extract decreased the immobility time in tail suspension and forced swim testsLiquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy data revealed the presence of cathinone and cathine in Khat extract. Abbreviations used: LC-MS: Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy; NIST: National institute of standard technology; SSRI: Serotonin reuptake inhibitors; FST: Forced swim test; TST: Tail suspension test.