Khat (Catha edulis) upregulates lipolytic genes in white adipose tissue of male obese mice (C57BL/6J)

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2020-11, Vol.262, p.113187, Article 113187
• Main Authors: Alshagga, Mustafa Ahmed, Mohamed, Zahurin, Seyedan, Atefehalsadat, Ebling, Francis J.P., Alshawsh, Mohammed Abdullah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue, White - drug effects; Adipose Tissue, White - metabolism; Animals; Antiobesity; Body Weight - drug effects; Body Weight - physiology; Catha; Catha edulis; Cathinone; Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects; Eating - drug effects; Eating - genetics; Khat; Lipolysis - drug effects; Lipolysis - physiology; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Obese mice; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - genetics; Obesity - metabolism; Orlistat; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Up-Regulation - drug effects; Up-Regulation - physiology
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113187

Khat (Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk.) is a herb from the Celastraceae family (also known as qat, gaad, or mirra) that is widely-consumed in East Africa and in the Arabian peninsula. The green leaves and small stems are consumed primarily at recreational and social gatherings, and medicinally for their antidiabetic and appetite-suppression effects. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of khat and its active alkaloid, cathinone, on food intake and body weight in mice maintained on a high-fat diet, and to investigate its mechanism of action in white adipose tissue and in the hypothalamus. Materials & Method: Adult male mice (C57BL/6J) were fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks (n = 30), then divided into 5 groups and treated daily for a further 8 weeks with HFD + vehicle [control (HFD)], HFD + 15 mg/kg orlistat (HFDO), HFD + 200 mg/kg khat extract (HFDK200), HFD + 400 mg/kg khat extract (HFDK400) and HFD + 3.2 mg/kg cathinone (HFDCAT). Treatments were carried out once daily by gastric gavage. Blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical, hormonal and gene expression analyses. Khat extracts and orlistat treatment significantly reduced weight gain as compared to control mice on HFD, and cathinone administration completely prevented weight gain in mice fed on HFD. Khat treatment caused a marked reduction in body fat and in serum triglycerides. A dose-dependent effect of khat was observed in reducing serum leptin concentrations. Analysis of gene expression in adipose tissue revealed a significant upregulation of two lipolysis pathway genes:(adipose triglyceride lipase (PNPLA-2) and hormone-sensitive lipase (LIPE). In the hypothalamic there was a significant (P