Mechanism of action of cathinone: The active ingredient of khat (Catha edulis)

Objective: To review the current understanding of the mechanism of action o f cathinone, the active ingredient of khat, Data source: Published experimental studies on the nature and action and ef fect of cathinone on the central nervous system both in animals and humans, Data extraction: Data was taken from work published on the mechanism of act ion of cathinone and also from work where the action of cathinone and amphe tamine was compared. Data synthesis: Data from various studies on cathinone was compared for com mon themes with regards to its action and similarity with the known mechani sm of action of amphetamine. Conclusion: The experimental work shows that cathinone is a liable substanc e, structually related to amphetamine, and similarly to amphetamine, increa ses the levels of dopamine in the brain by acting on the cathecholaminergic synaspes, Hence the psychostimulant effect of khat can be accounted for by the mechanism of cathinone, which is considered to be its main active ingr edient.