Effect of Catha edulis on Insulin, Resistin and Cortisol Levels in Type-2 Diabetics and Non-Diabetics

Abstract

In this study, the biochemical effects of Catha edulis leaves chewing (as psycho stimulant and aphrodisiac) on the serum concentration of resistin, insulin, cortisol, zinc, calcium, copper and blood glucose in both healthy individuals and type 2 diabetic patients were examined. 80 male subjects aged 35-55 years were recruited in this study, 40 of them were previously diagnosed as type 2 diabetics and the other 40 were healthy non-diabetics. The above two groups were subdivided into two subgroups (n = 20) in accordance on whether they were regular and chronic khat chewers or none into NNK; healthy non-khat chewers, NK; healthy khat chewers, DNK; type 2 diabetic non-khat chewers and DK; type 2 diabetic khat chewers. Khat chewing resulted in elevated resistin, cortisol, FBG, PBG levels and HOMA-IR in either diabetics or healthy khat chewers than those of non-khat chewers and generally in diabetics than healthy. In addition, khat chewing resulted in a significant increase in calcium and copper serum levels. In contrast, serum zinc and insulin levels in diabetic chewers were significantly lower than those of diabetic’s non-chewers. Catha edulis Forsk chewing adds additional toxic effects to type 2 diabetics by increasing cortisol and resistin levels while decreasing insulin secretion and sensitivity.