Effect of khat extract on young rat's memory

Abstract

Consumption of khat is still pressing issue in Jazan region. The present study was imperative to know the effect of khat use on memory of young rats. The current study used rats in age comparable to adult humans that mimic the stages of education and grouped in four groups. 1-control normal, 2-scopolamine, 3-khat extract administered group for four weeks, 4- khat withdrawal group administered khat extract for four weeks then left for one week without khat administration. All groups of rats were trained using Morris water maze task before treatment then the behavioral test was performed after treatments and cortex acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activities were determined in all groups. The body weights were detected weekly. The study showed that khat extract impaired performance in the water maze test, increased cortical AChE activity and reduced the body weight in a time related manner, meanwhile khat withdrawals showed partial retention of the maze performance, reduction in AChE activity and body weight gain. The study knocks alarm on cognitive impairment due to khat consumption especially on youth.