Tea in the Morning and Khat Afternoon: Health Threats Due to Khat Chewing.

Iana Malasevskaia,Ahmed A Al-Awadhi,Lubna Mohammed

doi:10.7759/cureus.12363

Iana Malasevskaia, Ahmed A Al-Awadhi + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.12363

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Abstract

Khat or qat (Catha edulis) is a flowering plant with an Arabic name قات, regularly named as qāt, also is known by various descriptive names, such as Abyssinian tea, Somali tea, Arabian tea, Miraa, Jima, and Kafta in its endemic regions of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Fresh leaves and tops of khat are chewed or dried and consumed as a tea to attain a state of euphoria and excitement; it also has appetite-reducing effects. Traditionally, khat is used as a socializing habit in Yemen and is also widely cultivated because of its high income. However, in recent years the plant has been reported in England, Wales, Rome, Amsterdam, Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Although it is believed that khat is a relatively low-risk drug, it's associated with an increased risk for various medical complications, including dental and oropharyngeal disease, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric, obstetric, and even can be the cause of cancer. Our goal in this review article is to revise and determine the relationship between chewing khat and its health issues. Additionally, we tried to determine the mechanism involved in health hazards due to consuming the khat.

Highlights

BackgroundApproximately 20 million people worldwide put their health at risk using a daily habit of khat-chewing, some for pleasure and some as cultural significance [1]
The earliest description of khat in western literature was in 1697 by the French Barthélémyd' Herbelot de Molainville when he traveled to Yemen; he said "It is made from a seed which is unknown to us, but which has been forbidden by doctors of the law in Yemen, because it is too strong, and affects our brain"
In 1965, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted khat's abuse as a regional problem that should be controlled in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen

Summary

Introduction

20 million people worldwide put their health at risk using a daily habit of khat-chewing, some for pleasure and some as cultural significance [1]. Leaves of fresh khat contain the alkaloids of the phenylpropanolamine type, which contains two psychoactive stimulants cathinone cathine (S, S-(+)-norpseudoephedrine) and (S- (-)-αaminopropiophenone). In 1965, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted khat's abuse as a regional problem that should be controlled in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Khat chewing is not lawfully legalized in most countries, such as Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and Kenya, where the habit is performed. Between 15-20% of children under age 12 are khat's daily consumers [3, 10] People of those countries usually spend most of the day buying and chewing khat, severely affecting working hours and the national income in general, and the family and society in particular [3]. The current study's main aim was to analyze khat's effect on organ systems and the mechanism which is involved in health hazards due to regular consumption of khat

Methods

Conclusions

Disclosures

Ageely HM

Findings

Wabe NT