Nyongesa Albert W, Patel Nilesh B, Onyango Daniel W, Wango Emmanuel O, Odongo Hesbon O
Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Apr 4;110(3):401-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.040. Epub 2006 Oct 13.
Isolated mouse interstitial cells were incubated with different concentrations of khat (Catha edulis) extract (0.06 mg/ml, 0.6 mg/ml, 6 mg/ml, 30 mg/ml and 60 mg/ml) and cell viability as well as testosterone concentration measured at 30 min intervals over a 3h incubation period. High concentrations of khat extract (30 mg/ml and 60 mg/ml) significantly inhibited testosterone production while low concentrations (0.06 mg/ml, 0.6 mg/ml and 6 mg/ml) significantly stimulated (P<0.05) testosterone production by mouse interstitial cells. Similarly, at concentrations of 30 mg/ml and 60 mg/ml, there was a significant decrease in interstitial cell viability, whereas at 0.06 mg/ml, 0.6 mg/ml and 6 mg/ml there was no significant decrease. There was only a weak correlation (r=0.39) between testosterone production and viable interstitial cells. We postulate that khat extract at high concentrations may cause reproductive function impairment in the user but at low concentrations, may enhance testosterone production with accompanying effects on reproductive functions in male mice.
将分离出的小鼠间质细胞与不同浓度的巧茶提取物（0.06毫克/毫升、0.6毫克/毫升、6毫克/毫升、30毫克/毫升和60毫克/毫升）一起孵育，并在3小时的孵育期内每隔30分钟测量一次细胞活力以及睾酮浓度。高浓度的巧茶提取物（30毫克/毫升和60毫克/毫升）显著抑制睾酮生成，而低浓度（0.06毫克/毫升、0.6毫克/毫升和6毫克/毫升）则显著刺激（P<0.05）小鼠间质细胞生成睾酮。同样，在30毫克/毫升和60毫克/毫升的浓度下，间质细胞活力显著下降，而在0.06毫克/毫升、0.6毫克/毫升和6毫克/毫升时，没有显著下降。睾酮生成与存活的间质细胞之间只有微弱的相关性（r=0.39）。我们推测，高浓度的巧茶提取物可能会导致使用者生殖功能受损，但低浓度时，可能会增强睾酮生成，并对雄性小鼠的生殖功能产生相应影响。
