FolkKB

Khat

Catha edulis

Catha edulis, commonly known as khat, is a traditional plant used in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Traditionally, it has been used for social gatherings and to enhance communication skills, though specific medicinal uses are not well-documented. Scientific evidence suggests that long-term khat chewing may be associated with temporomandibular disorders, hypertension, elevated liver enzymes, and higher fasting blood glucose levels, particularly in relation to the frequency of use. Khat chewers also show a significant association with oral white lesions; however, there is no conclusive evidence linking it to oral or esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. No major safety issues or drug interactions have been recorded for khat use.

At a glance
Best evidence
A
Cautions
—

Informational only. Traditional use does not mean proven effectiveness. Evidence and safety vary — check the cited sources.

What the science says

  • The pooled analysis suggests a possible association between long-term khat chewing and temporomandibular disorders, though evidence quality is low due to heterogeneity among studies. A PMID
  • Khat chewers were 2.4 times more likely to have hypertension compared to non-chewers (OR 2.4, 95%CI 1.48-3.88). A PMID
  • Khat chewers showed higher aminotransferase levels and fasting blood glucose compared to non-chewers, with correlations to dose, duration, and frequency of use. D PMID
  • The study found a significant positive association between khat chewing and oral white lesions, but no conclusive association with oral or esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A PMID
  • The study found that Catha edulis showed neuroprotective activities in Parkinson's disease models, among other plant investigations. D PMID

Frequently asked questions

What is Khat?

Khat (Catha edulis) is a plant documented in FolkKB's traditional-medicine reference, drawn from sourced literature and cross-checked against the evidence.

What does the scientific evidence say about Khat?

5 sourced findings are recorded for Khat; the strongest carries evidence grade A. For example: The pooled analysis suggests a possible association between long-term khat chewing and temporomandibular disorders, though evidence quality is low due to heterogeneity among studies.

How strong is the evidence for Khat?

The strongest finding for Khat carries evidence grade A — strong evidence. Grades run A (strongest) to D (preliminary or traditional).

Is Khat safe? What are the side effects?

No major safety issues are recorded for Khat in our sources, but the data may be incomplete. Consult a qualified professional before use.

Does Khat interact with medications?

No drug interactions are recorded for Khat in our sources. This does not rule them out — check with a pharmacist.

What are the common names of Khat?

Khat is also known as: Кат.

Is Khat a proven treatment?

No. FolkKB is informational only. Traditional use and early findings are not proof of efficacy or safety — consult a qualified professional and never self-treat.

Sources

  1. T2 Does regular Khat (Catha edulis) chewing in adults increase the risk of hypertension compared to non-use? A systematic review and meta-analysis. literature abstract metadata
  2. T2 Khat chewing and its association with oral/esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and oral white lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. literature abstract metadata
  3. T2 Association between khat chewing and temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. literature abstract metadata
  4. T2 Impact of chronic khat chewing on liver function tests and fasting blood glucose levels among adult male khat chewers. literature abstract metadata
  5. T2 The footprint of ethnopharmacology in drug discovery (ISE-APSS2024). literature abstract metadata