Human khat (Catha edulis) chewers have elevated plasma leptin and nonesterified fatty acids

In this study, the effect of regular khat (Catha edulis Forsk) chewing (200 and 400 g) in humans on plasma leptin, nonesterified fatty acid, triacyglycerol, and total cholesterol levels was investigated. The results presented show that khat chewing increases plasma leptin concentration particularly in individuals who chew 400 g of khat leaves. The significance of increased plasma leptin is in explaining the underlying mechanism of the observed effects associated with khat chewing such as loss of appetite, decreased body weight, and hyperthermia. The decreased body weight was evident from the significantly lower body mass index of the khat leaves chewers group as compared to the non–khat leaves chewers group (control). Moreover, like leptin, the plasma levels of nonesterified fatty acids were significantly higher in those chewing 400 g of khat leaves. On the other hand, the plasma levels of triacylglycerol were significantly lower in the 2 khat-chewers groups (200 and 400 g of khat leaves), whereas plasma cholesterol levels were not affected by the 2 levels of khat leaves used in this study. The significance of these results may suggest that khat leaves may contain a component(s) that has the ability to reduce body weight via decreasing appetite.     

Catha edulis, a plant that has amphetamine effects

The chewing of fresh leaves of the khat bush (Catha edulis) is common in certain countries of East Africa and the Arab peninsula, because this material has a stimulating effect. During the last decade, important progress has been made in understanding the pharmacology of this drug. Its actions are mainly due to the alkaloid cathinone, a substance that can be called a natural amphetamine.     

Evaluation Of The Diuretic Activity Of Boerhaavia Verticillata

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the potential diuretic activity of Boerhaavia verticillata . The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of B. verticillata were administered in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p., to normal and adult albino rats, which were monitored over a period of 24 h. Experimental results confirmed that both the ethanol and aqueous extracts have diuretic properties, but the ethanol extract seems to have less diuretic and natriuretic activity than the aqueous extract.     

快速水分测定法测定光慈姑药材水分含量

目的:考察快速水分测定法的影响因素,为其替代烘干法测定光慈姑药材的水分含量提供科学依据。方法:通过研究光慈姑药材的粒度、测定温度及样品质量,得出最优快速水分测定条件,并在最优条件下与烘干法测定结果进行对比。结果:快速水分测定法在最优条件粒度80目以下、温度155℃、样品质量3.0 g,所测光慈姑药材水分与烘干法差异无统计学意义。结论:快速水分测定法操作简便、测定迅速,可替代烘干法测定光慈姑药材的水分含量。     

Khat的滥用及其管理

本文回顾了国际社会近年来就Khat（恰特草）的药理作用及药代动力学、滥用形势和特点、药物依赖性、对Khat的管制等问题开展的研究及发表的文献。文献指出Khat使用主要在非洲和阿拉伯半岛部分国家和地区较为流行,在欧洲等地区也有一定使用人群;Khat使用可造成一系列的躯体和精神健康问题,但其与部分身心危害的因果关系需要进一步的研究加以验证;Khat具有一定的药物依赖潜力,需开展深入研究对其依赖性和成瘾特征加以探讨,为Khat管制决策提供科学依据。     

乌药水提取物抗心律失常作用的研究

目的研究乌药水提取物的抗心律失常作用。方法采用常规抗心律失常方法,将三氯甲烷诱发小鼠室颤试验和氯化钙诱发大鼠室颤试验分为生理盐水组、维拉帕米组、10．0mg／kg乌药水提取物组和30．0mg／kg乌药水提取物组：将肾上腺素诱发家兔心律失常试验分为给药前后组;蟾蜍离体坐骨神经动作电位试验分为任氏液组、1．0％盐酸普鲁卡因溶液组、0．5g/ml和1．0/md乌药水提取物组。结果乌药水提取物对三氯甲烷诱发的小鼠室颤具有明显的治疗作用（P〈0．05）,对氯化钙诱发的大鼠室颤具有明显的预防效果（P〈0．05）,能明显对抗肾上腺素诱发的家兔心律失常（P〈0．01）,可明显降低蟾蜍离体坐骨神经动作电位振幅（P〈O．05）。结论乌药水提取物具有明显的抗试验性心律失常作用,能对抗由三氯甲烷、氯化钙、肾上腺素等诱发的心律失常,其抗心律失常作用可能与其抑制Na＋内流及与阻断β一肾上腺素受体有关。     

乌药叶总黄酮的抗氧化作用及对四氯化碳致小鼠肝损伤的保护作用

目的 考察乌药叶总黄酮(LA--flavonoids)的抗氧化作用,初步探讨其抗氧化机制.方法 在化学模拟体系中,利用总抗氧化能力和抗超氧阴离子自由基试剂盒评价LA-flavonoids抗氧化活性.利用腹腔注射四氯化碳(CCl4)造成小鼠急性肝损伤动物模型,以血清转氨酶活性以及总抗氧化能力、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)水平为指标判断LA-flavonoids对化学性肝损伤的保护作用,并通过逆转录-多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法测定肝组织中相关抗氧化基因表达量的变化.结果 在化学模拟体系中,随着LA-flavonoids浓度的增加,其总抗氧化活性和抗超氧阴离子自由基活性均显著增加.在CCl4肝损伤模型中,50～200 mg/kg的LA-flavonoids均可显著降低肝损伤小鼠血清转氨酶的活性,显著增强总抗氧化能力和SOD活力,减少MDA释放;进一步研究发现,LA-flavonoids可显著提高受损肝组织中抗氧化相关基因thioredoxin(抗细菌硫氧还原蛋白)、heme oxygenase-1(血红素加氧酶-1)以及peroxiredoxin-1(过氧化物酶-1)的表达.结论 LA-flavonoids能通过清除自由基,抑制脂质过氧化产生,从而保护CCl4所致小鼠急性肝损伤,其机制可能与调节抗氧化相关基因的表达有关.     

Arteriosclerosis related deaths in severe neurosis

1,482 previous in-patients with the diagnosis of neurosis from three hospitals in Birmingham, U.K., were followed up after a mean of 10.9 years. 91% of the sample were traced and 139 patients were found to have died. When those causes of death from the International Classification of Diseases indicating arteriosclerosis were summed, there was a highly significant increase of death from arteriosclerosis in the sample compared with expected mortality. Death from accident, poisoning and violence was also highly significantly increased, especially self-inflicted death. There was also an increase in deaths from respiratory causes.