Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah, Saudi Arabia.
College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Med Sci Monit. 2023 Apr 1;29:e939455. doi: 10.12659/MSM.939455.
Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) is a stimulating narcotic grown mainly in East and Southern Africa. The plant has a long history as a popular social behavior within these regions, and its active ingredient, cathinone, has been thought to cause an array of physical, psychological, and mental health complications. In 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified it as an illicit substance due to the potential for psychological dependence. Subsequent investigations have found that its regular consumption can negatively impact the human central nervous system (CNS), systemic blood pressure, genitourinary system, and psychological health. This narrative review aims to discuss the reproductive toxicity and sexual dysfunction (SD) caused by regular khat usage in humans and experimental animals. Animal studies found dose-dependent impacts on male reproductive health: low levels increased testosterone production, whereas high levels had the opposite effects. Moderate intake was associated with reduced luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and heightened cortisol in blood plasma. In human studies, chronic users had dramatically lower semen volume, sperm motility, and count, as well as reduced libido or erectile dysfunction (ED). Khat can have serious implications for male fertility and sexual health: therefore, better understanding of its effects is paramount. This article aims to review the toxic effects on the male reproductive and sexual health of chewing the psychostimulant, Catha edulis (khat).
阿拉伯茶（Catha edulis Forsk）是一种主要生长在东非和南非的兴奋剂。这种植物在这些地区有着悠久的作为一种流行的社交行为的历史，其活性成分卡西酮被认为会引起一系列身体、心理和心理健康并发症。1980 年，世界卫生组织（WHO）因其可能导致心理依赖而将其列为非法物质。随后的调查发现，其定期消费会对人体中枢神经系统（CNS）、全身血压、泌尿生殖系统和心理健康产生负面影响。本综述旨在讨论人类和实验动物中常规使用阿拉伯茶引起的生殖毒性和性功能障碍（SD）。动物研究发现，其对男性生殖健康有剂量依赖性影响：低水平的阿拉伯茶增加了睾丸激素的产生，而高水平则有相反的效果。适度摄入与黄体生成素（LH）水平降低和血浆皮质醇升高有关。在人类研究中，慢性使用者的精液量、精子活力和数量明显减少，性欲或勃起功能障碍（ED）也减少。阿拉伯茶可能对男性生育能力和性健康产生严重影响：因此，更好地了解其影响至关重要。本文旨在综述咀嚼兴奋剂阿拉伯茶对男性生殖和性健康的毒性作用。
