Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-2018-0038

Catha edulis active principle, cathinone, suppresses motor coordination, accelerates the anxiety and alters the levels of dopamine and its metabolites in the limbic areas of male Swiss albino mice

MOHAMMAD M. SAFHI ; Neuroscience and Toxicology Unit, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Ministry of Education, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
MOHAMMED FIROZ ALAM ; Neuroscience and Toxicology Unit, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Ministry of Education, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
GULRANA KHUWAJA ; Neuroscience and Toxicology Unit, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Ministry of Education, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
SOHAIL HUSSAIN ; Neuroscience and Toxicology Unit, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Ministry of Education, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
MOHAMMED HAKEEM SIDDIQUI ; Neuroscience and Toxicology Unit, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Ministry of Education, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
FARAH ISLAM ; Poison Control and Medical Forensic Chemistry Center, Ministry of Health, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
IBRAHIM KHARDALI ; Substance Abuse Research Center, Jazan University, Ministry of Education, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
RASHAD MOHAMMED AL-SANOSI ; Substance Abuse Research Center, Jazan University, Ministry of Education, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
HASSAN AL-HAZMI ; Neuroscience and Toxicology Unit, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Ministry of Education, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
ANDLEEB KHAN ; Neuroscience and Toxicology Unit, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Ministry of Education, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
FAKHRUL ISLAM ; Neuroscience and Toxicology

Abstract

Cathinone, the active principle of khat (Catha edulis), stimulates, excites and produces euphoric feelings in khat users. Locomotor and rearing activities, either individual or in groups, of male Swiss albino mice were decreased significantly compared to the control. Motor coordination tests (rotarod, rope climb and grip tests) have shown decreased motor performance in the mice treated with cathinone compared to the control. The elevated plus maze test has shown significant anxiety in the mice compared to the control. Contents of dopamine and its metabolite, homovanillic acid, were increased in the limbic areas compared to the control group. In contrast, contents of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid were depleted significantly and dose dependently compared to the control group in the limbic areas of mice. In conclusion, natural cathinone has depleted motor coordination, accelerated anxiety in mice and altered the contents of dopamine and its metabolites.

Keywords

cathinone; mice; behavioral activities; dopamine; 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid; homovanillic acid; limbic area

Hrčak ID:

202289

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/202289

Publication date:

31.12.2018.

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