Co-Authors:
Krizevski, R., Department of Aromatic, Medicinal and Spice Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel, Albert Katz Department of Dryland Agriculture, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer 84990, Israel
Dudai, N., Department of Aromatic, Medicinal and Spice Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Bar, E., Department of Aromatic, Medicinal and Spice Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Dessow, I., Department of Aromatic, Medicinal and Spice Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel, Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva 84105, Israel
Ravid, U., Department of Aromatic, Medicinal and Spice Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Lewinsohna, E., Department of Aromatic, Medicinal and Spice Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Abstract:
Khat (Catha edulis Forsk., Celastraceae) is a perennial shrub that was introduced to Israel by Yemenite immigrants. Its young leaves are chewed for their psychostimulating properties. Young khat leaves contain the phenylpropylamino alkaloids (-)-cathinone [(S)-α-aminopropiophenone], (+)-cathine [(1S)(2S)-norpseudoephedrine], and (-)-norephedrine [(1R)(2S)-norephedrine] as the main active principles. A novel GC-MS analysis method for the quantitative determination of phenylpropylamino alkaloids and their putative biosynthetic precursor 1-phenylpropane-1,2- dione in khat leaves was developed. We utilized an alkaline-organic extraction, coupled with gas chromatography and a chiral permethylated beta cyclodextrin phase, to allow a full separation between the two diastereoisomers (1S)(2S)-cathineand (1R)(2S)-norephedrine. We found a marked diversity in the phenylpropylamino alkaloid content and composition in three different locally grown accessions and the commercial cultivar 'Mahanaim. Copyright © 2008 Science From Israel / LPPltd.