Khat ( Catha edulis) up-regulates testosterone and decreases prolactin and cortisol levels in the baboon

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 103; no. 3; pp. 379 - 384
• Main Authors: Mwenda, Jason M., Owuor, Roselida A., Kyama, Cleophas M., Wango, Emmanuel O., M’Arimi, Milton, Langat, Daudi K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 20-02-2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; Baboon; bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; Catha; Catha edulis; cortisol; Fertility; Fertility - drug effects; General pharmacology; Hormones; Hydrocortisone - blood; Khat; Male; male fertility; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Non-human primate; Papio; Papio anubis; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; prolactin; Prolactin - blood; quantitative analysis; testosterone; Testosterone - blood; Time Factors; Khat; Hormones; Fertility; Non-human primate; Baboon; Hydrocortisone; Glucocorticoid; Medicinal plant; Catha edulis; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Primates; Testicular hormone; Human; Corticosteroid; Androgen; Steroid hormone; Pharmacognosy; Celastraceae; Antiinflammatory agent; Testosterone; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Adrenal hormone; Plant origin; Spermatophyta; Sex steroid hormone
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.08.016

The potential effect of Khat (
Catha edulis, Celastraceae) on fertility in humans has not been elucidated. In this study, we used the olive baboon (
Papio anubis, Cercopithecidae) to determine the effects of oral administration of khat on circulating hormones. In order to establish baseline hormonal levels, five male baboons were bled once a week for 1 month. The same baboons were then fed with crude khat juice extract once a week over a period of 2 months, and the effects on serum levels of cortisol, testosterone and prolactin determined using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Subsequently, sampling was repeated for a further 1 month to determine the residual effect of khat. The results showed that khat administration causes a significant increase in the mean levels of testosterone while prolactin and cortisol levels were reduced. These effects were also evident 1 month post treatment and indicate khat may exert a transient effect on male fertility by interfering with the hormonal profiles.