Ahmed M B, el-Qirbi A B
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Egypt.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1993 Aug;39(3):213-6. doi: 10.1016/0378-8741(93)90039-8.
Catha edulis is a plant that grows in certain areas of East Africa and the Arab Peninsula. The stimulating properties of fresh material were described more than seven centuries ago and today the habit of inducing a state of euphoria and subjective well-being by chewing Catha edulis prevails among the inhabitants of these regions. Oral administration of this plant and its active constituents (cathine and cathione) on experimental animals might have stimulating effects on adrenocortical function. This was indicated by the significant decrease in adrenal cholesterol, ascorbic acid, glycogen, and the increase in adrenal phosphorylase activity. In addition, the level of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids and plasma free fatty acids were increased.
巧茶是一种生长在东非和阿拉伯半岛某些地区的植物。早在七个多世纪前就有关于新鲜巧茶刺激性的记载，如今，通过咀嚼巧茶来产生欣快感和主观幸福感的习惯在这些地区的居民中仍然盛行。对实验动物口服这种植物及其活性成分（去甲伪麻黄碱和卡西酮）可能会对肾上腺皮质功能产生刺激作用。这表现为肾上腺胆固醇、抗坏血酸、糖原显著减少，肾上腺磷酸化酶活性增加。此外，尿中17 - 羟皮质类固醇和血浆游离脂肪酸水平升高。
