Use and abuse of khat (Catha edulis): a review of the distribution, pharmacology, side effects and a description of psychosis attributed to khat chewing.

@article{Pantelis1989UseAA,
  title={Use and abuse of khat (Catha edulis): a review of the distribution, pharmacology, side effects and a description of psychosis attributed to khat chewing.},
  author={Christos Pantelis and Charles Hindler and J C Taylor},
  journal={Psychological medicine},
  year={1989},
  volume={19 3},
  pages={
          657-68
        }
}
There have been relatively few reported cases of psychosis due to khat usage despite its heavy consumption in certain East African and Arabian countries. Four cases have been reported in the UK. We report here on three further cases of psychotic reactions to this substance in Somalian males, and emphasize the need to be aware of khat as a potential substance of abuse, with both medical and psychiatric complications. The features of khat psychoses are described and the relationship to… 
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TLDR
Administration of Catha edulis extracts showed a deranged systemic capacity to handle oxidative radicals and induces cytotoxic effects in cells of liver and kidney, as well as induction of cell death in various human leukaemia cell lines and in peripheral human blood leukocytes.
Khat use and mental illness: a critical review.
The green leaf: Khat and potentiality of dependence
Khat leaves originate Yemen and East Africa and are chewed socially for their psychoactive properties. The main constituents of khat, cathinone and cathine, are illegal substances in USA and most of…
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References

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For many hundreds of years the fresh leavesof the Khat shrub have been used for their stimulant properties. Several miffion people in East Africa Cathinone is considered the most active ingredient…
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TLDR
A case is presented of a 23-year-old male who displayed symptoms of manic psychosis and increased sympathetic activity following ingestion of khat (Catha edulis Forsk.), and the active constituents and possible abuse potential of k hat are discussed.
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TLDR
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