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Abstract
Objectives:Celastraceae) is a plant habituallychewedbyseveralmillionsof peopleinYemenandsoutherneastareasofAfricafor its pleasant stimulant effect on physical activity, consciousness, motor and mentalfunctionsaswellasits anti-fatigueaction.Thisstudywasaimedtoinvestigatetheimplication of chronic khat-habituation on secondary generalized seizures in an animalmodel.
Methods:this study; they were groupedintocontrol,Khat-habituated,and khat-withdrawal.Khat-habituationwasinducedby providing khat (2g/kg) withfood for two months. Khat-withdrawal was inducedby cessation of khat-containingfood for 14 days. Secondary generalized seizuresresemble those occurring in human brain were induced in animals by kindling which wasperformed by repeated intraperitoneal injection of sub-convulsive doses (11.5mg/kg)of INH at intervals of 30 minutes. The intensity of seizures was determined by empiricalscale modified from the behavior scale grading. The latency periods for developmentof seizures were observed.
References
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