A Somali trader takes khat out of bags. An
international conference was told that khat
-- a plant whose leaves are chewed as a mild
drug in East Africa and the Gulf -- contains
chemicals that may boost male
fertility.(AFP/File/Simon Maina)
Posted on 06/28/2004 8:30:09 AM PDT by demlosers
1 hour, 42 minutes ago
BERLIN (AFP) - Khat, a plant whose leaves are chewed as a mild drug in East Africa and the Gulf, contains chemicals that may boost male fertility, an international conference was told.
Called by its Latin name of Catha edulis, khat has been known for centuries for inducing a sense of euphoria and, say some of its champions, also improves a man's sex drive and ability to sustain an erection.
The stimulant in the leaves is called cathinone, which is swiftly broken down by enzymes into cathine and norephedrine, part of a group of chemicals called phenylpropanolamines (PPAs), of which adrenaline and amphetamine are members.
In the first study of PPAs on mouse and human sperm, British researchers said Monday that they found evidence that these substances help condition sperm, a process called capacitation, in which sperm is chemically primed for capturing an egg.
PPAs enable the sperm to reach maturation and also help to keep the sperm in this peak condition for longer, thus giving them more time to reach an egg, the scientists found.
The research was conducted at the Centre for Reproduction, Endocrinology and Diabetes at King's College London.
It was put forward on the second day of a four-day conference in Berlin of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).
More work is needed, but lead scientist Lynn Fraser said she was confident that over-the-counter PPA-based products may emerge one day for couples hoping to boost their chance of having a baby.
"A number of PPA related to the compounds we have studied are currently used in prescription and over-the-counter products, such as herbal dietary supplements used for weight loss and treatment of asthma," Fraser was quoted in a press release as saying.
"We envisage the development of products that could be taken by individuals, either couples who might be having trouble conceiving, or even those who have just decided to try to conceive and who have no obvious problems.
"PPAs could be used in IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) clinics as additives to sperm prepared for IVF or artificial insemination."
The study entailed incubating mouse and human sperm with cathine.
The sperm was then tested for capacitation and also for the acrosome reaction.
This is the final phase of capacitation, when the head of the sperm releases enzymes that help the sperm to penetrate the egg wall and fertilise the egg.
Cult of Clinton new drug of choice "khat" akin to a spiritual experience.
Well, this should help the cell phone users......
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1161667/posts
IIRC, wasn't khat the drug used by the Somalis in the "Blackhawk down" incident. I seem to recall the Army at the time saying that the attacks were fueled in part by drugged up Somalis using khat.
I could be misremembering this...
Get thee to a khathouse.
Hey look, new drug on the horizon for the Cult of Clintonism.
Possession of Khat is illegal in the United States, IIRC.
Watch out VIAGRA !!
Great. Raising male fertility ... in guys who would rather screw a goat.
The UN will find a way to require its peacekeepers, known by some as "sex" abusers to set up a world wide program called "PEACE for Khat".
mild drug?
I know someone who has used this leaf and he told me that if you pack your cheek well enough, that it's pretty potent.
Somali PCP
LOL!
Probably. PJ O'Rourke writes about khat in his piece on his visit to Somalia.
I guess he let the khat out of the bag.
Khat man do it better.
Clinton himself is perpetually priapic....needs no drugs. But I guess his Dim buddies could use it. LOL.
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