THE EFFECT OF khat ADMINISTRATION ON FREE RADICALS METABOLISM AND ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN RATS

Abstract

Khat, is the a common name for catha Edulis Forsk, a shrub Widely found in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The cultivation and consumption of khat has profound social and economic consequences for the areas concerned. In the rural areas of Yemen, the habit of chewing khat is acquired within the family, usually at an age of between IO and 14 years, whereas, in urban areas khat use is usually the result of peer group influence and abstention can lead to social isolation.

The pharmacological and behavioral effects of khat chewing in Yemen have been reported several years ago then after most of the metabolic effects were also studied by many authors who were working in Yemen in the last 20 years. But up-till now there is no satisfied research concerning the oxidative stress and the role of free radicals associated with khat chewing.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of

-_; khat extract on metabolism of free radicals and antioxidant status in experimental animals.

The animals were grouped into:

- Group (I): A control group for one-month khat treated rats group (GU).