Kalix P
Neuropsychobiology. 1984;12(2-3):127-9. doi: 10.1159/000118124.
The alkaloid (-)-cathinone, which accounts for the stimulating properties of khat leaves, has a pharmacological profile closely resembling that of (+)-amphetamine. Since amphetamine is known to induce release at CNS serotonin storage sites, experiments were performed to determine whether (-)-cathinone also displays this aspect of amphetamine action. When the effects of (-)-cathinone and (+)-amphetamine on the release of radioactivity from rat striatal tissue prelabelled with 3H-serotonin were compared, it was found that (-)-cathinone had a releasing effect similar to that of (+)-amphetamine, although it was only one third as potent. Thus, the khat alkaloid (-)-cathinone appears to share an important effect of (+)-amphetamine on serotoninergic neurotransmission.