EVALUATION OF TERATOGENIC POTENTIAL OF KHAT (CATHA-EDULIS FORSK) IN RATS

The embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of khat (Catha edulis Forsk.), a plant chewed by the people of Eastern Africa and Southern Arabia to attain a state of euphoria and stimulation, was studied in Wistar rat s, Methanolic extract of khat was administered orally by gavage to rat s during days from 6 to 15 of gestation at doses of 0, 125, 250 and 50 0 mg/kg. body weight/day. Khat reduced the food consumption and matern al weight gain and also lowered the food efficiency index, as compared to control mothers. On day 20 of gestation, all dams were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, cesarean sections were performed and maternal and fetal toxicities were assessed. The administration of khat had no effect on fetal sex ratio. However, at a dose of 125 mg/kg body weigh t and above, it produced a significant increase in resorptions and fet al wastage. Khat administration in utero also reduced the litter size and caused intrauterine growth retardation. External, visceral and ske letal examination of the fetus of treated dams showed several types of malformations and variations in all the groups of animals. However, a consistent tendency of abnormalities was observed in the highest dose d (500 mg/kg) group. The data of the present study revealed that khat retarded fetal growth and induced terata. The present observations ind icate that khat possesses both embryotoxic as well as teratogenic prop erties. The developmental toxicities of khat are dose-related.