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Abstract
Khat (Catha edulis Forsk.) is a shrub whose fresh leaves and stems are chewed for their stimulant properties, to enhance psychic satisfaction and social interaction. These effects are attributed to cathinone, an alkaloid present in the fresh leaves, which is similar in structure to amphetamine. Khat has been used for centuries around the southern shores of the Red Sea, the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula and certain east African countries. With an increasingly mobile world population, the habit of khat chewing and its attendant problems are now being recognized outside this confined area. This paper reviews the world literature on khat to provide an overview.