Khat

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Africa, Yemen, Arabia, Ethiopia, Kenya, IN, YE

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Anorexia, Asthma, Astringent, Chest

Science studied: ASH, ASPARAGIC-ACID, CALCIUM, BETA-CAROTENE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Celastraceae

Scientific name: Catha edulis

Common names: Khat, Bushman's Tea, Qat, ingamwa, kakuha, mugore gwa muzirhu, muheshe, mushongati, nembo, nembwe, nyanyunda, umusongati

POWO: 941530-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, Africa, Yemen, Arabia, Ethiopia, Kenya, IN, YE.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Anorexia
• Asthma
• Astringent
• Chest
• CNS stimulant
• Cough
• Debility
• Fumitory

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• Africa
• Yemen
• Arabia
• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• IN
• YE

Documented cultural uses

• Anorexia
• Asthma
• Astringent
• Chest
• CNS stimulant
• Cough
• Debility
• Fumitory
• Lethargy
• Masticatory
• Narcotic
• Poison

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Anorexia · Elsewhere · "
• Asthma · Elsewhere · "
• Astringent · Elsewhere · "
• Chest · Africa · "
• Chest · Elsewhere · "
• CNS stimulant · Elsewhere · "
• Cough · Elsewhere · "
• Debility · Yemen · "
• Fumitory · Arabia · "
• Lethargy · Yemen · "
• Masticatory · Elsewhere · "
• Masticatory · Ethiopia · "
• Masticatory · Kenya · "
• Narcotic · Elsewhere · "
• Poison · Arabia · "
• Stimulant · Elsewhere · "
• Stimulant · Ethiopia · "
• Tea · Elsewhere · "
• Tea · Ethiopia · "
• Aphrodisiac · Ethiopia · "
• Fumitory · Elsewhere · "
• Stimulant · Africa · "
• Stomach · Africa · "
• Flu · Africa · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Phytochemical profiling and quantification of bioactive constituents in lyophilized khat (Catha edulis Forsk) leaf extract from central Uganda · 2026 source ↗
• Association Between Khat (<i>Catha edulis</i>) Consumption and Hepatocellular Enzyme Elevation: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study. · 2026 source ↗
• Association Between Habitual Khat (<i>Catha edulis</i>) Chewing and Oral Reactive Hyperplastic Lesions: A Cross-Sectional Clinicopathological Study in Yemen. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ASH
• ASPARAGIC-ACID
• CALCIUM
• BETA-CAROTENE
• CATHINE
• CATHININE
• L-CATHINONE
• EPHEDRINE
• PSI-EPHEDRINE
• IRON
• MANNITOL
• NIACIN
• NORISOEPHEDRINE
• TANNIN
• THIAMIN
• ASCORBIC-ACID

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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