Author : A. D. Krikorian and Amare Getahun
Year : 1973
The early history, botany, cultivation, economics and sociological aspects of the use ofCatha edulis (Vahl) Forsk. ex Endl., commonly known as chat, have been presented in some detail. We have found general agreement in the literature as to the presence ofd-norpseudoephedrine in chat; the identity of the accompanying alkaloids is not at all certain. There is also disagreement as to whether or not the amounts ofd-norpseudoephedrine that have been determined occur in sufficient quantity to account for chat’s pharmacological action. Some investigators construe this as indicating the need for a holistic approach to the chemical pharmacology ofCatha edulis. Investigators claiming to have found additional alkaloids agree neither upon the number present nor upon their identities. It has been suggested that some of the anticipated additional alkaloids may well be congeners of others.