Eden Tadesse T/tsadik
Universal University College, Ethiopia
Title: The effect of acute exposure to crude khat (Catha edulis F.) on mice using multiple T- maze test
Biography
Biography: Eden Tadesse T/tsadik
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder which is characterized by the inability to separate reality from non reality. Symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations or disorganized thinking. Cognitive dysfunction is considered a core deficit of schizophrenia. Khat (Catha edulis F.) is an evergreen tree that belongs to Celestraceae family. It is claimed to have schizophrenic like effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential schizophrenic inducing effect of acute administration of crude khat extract in mice. Crude khat extract obtained using a mixture of chloroform and diethyl ether (1:3) was administered orally in doses of 100, 200, 300 mg/kg, the negative and positive control groups were administered with Tween 80 2% v/v in water and ketamine 10 mg/kg respectively. Multiple T-maze test was used to evaluate the cognitive function and the latency to reach the goal box was determined. The results collectively indicate acute administration of khat extract at the doses used did not have a significant cognitive effect in MTM test.