In vitro study of the effects of khat ( Catha edulis Forsk) extract on isolated mouse interstitial cells

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 110; no. 3; pp. 401 - 405
• Main Authors: Nyongesa, Albert W., Patel, Nilesh B., Onyango, Daniel W., Wango, Emmanuel O., Odongo, Hesbon O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 04-04-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; biosynthesis; Catha - chemistry; Catha edulis; Cell Survival - drug effects; chemical constituents of plants; dose response; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; General pharmacology; In vitro; Interstitial cells; Khat; Leydig cells; Leydig Cells - drug effects; Leydig Cells - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Mice; Mouse; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; Reproduction - drug effects; Testosterone; Testosterone - biosynthesis; toxicity; viability; Interstitial cells; Testosterone; Khat; Mouse; In vitro; Androgen; Pharmacognosy; Celastraceae; Rodentia; Extract; Medicinal plant; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Catha edulis; Dicotyledones; Animal; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Spermatophyta; Testicular hormone; Sex steroid hormone
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.040

Isolated mouse interstitial cells were incubated with different concentrations of khat (
Catha edulis) extract (0.06
mg/ml, 0.6
mg/ml, 6
mg/ml, 30
mg/ml and 60
mg/ml) and cell viability as well as testosterone concentration measured at 30
min intervals over a 3
h incubation period. High concentrations of khat extract (30
mg/ml and 60
mg/ml) significantly inhibited testosterone production while low concentrations (0.06
mg/ml, 0.6
mg/ml and 6
mg/ml) significantly stimulated (
P
<
0.05) testosterone production by mouse interstitial cells. Similarly, at concentrations of 30
mg/ml and 60
mg/ml, there was a significant decrease in interstitial cell viability, whereas at 0.06
mg/ml, 0.6
mg/ml and 6
mg/ml there was no significant decrease. There was only a weak correlation (
r
=
0.39) between testosterone production and viable interstitial cells. We postulate that khat extract at high concentrations may cause reproductive function impairment in the user but at low concentrations, may enhance testosterone production with accompanying effects on reproductive functions in male mice.