Catha edulis Forsk (khat) reduces spontaneous and rewarded alternation in female mice.

Around 10 million people chew the fresh leaves and twigs of Catha edulis Forsk (khat), which synthesize cathinone, for its psychostimulatory effect. Several studies have reported that regular khat users show executive and cognitive dysfunction, such as impaired inhibitory control and poor performance on memory tests. In this study, the effect of fresh khat extract (100 and 250 mg/kg) on spatial working memory and short-term memory in mice was assessed using spontaneous and rewarded alternation T-maze tests. In the spontaneous alternation test, mice treated with fresh khat extract decreased their spontaneous alternation level to around chance level, and it remained at this level over the 7 days of khat administration and testing. On testing after a 7-day khat free period, the previously khat treated mice showed alternation level above chance but below their pre-khat alternation level. In the rewarded alternation test, acute treatment with khat caused the mice to alternate well below chance level, and then over the next 3 days of khat treatment, the alternation level increased. After a 2 and 9-day khat-free period, the previously khat treated mice alternated above chance level but below their pre-khat level. In both these tests, the mice did not show any position preference before khat treatment; however, during the khat treatment, the mice showed a right side tendency. The results show that khat treatment causes persistent changes in alternation behavior and promotes perseverative behavior, presumably due to its effect on the neural circuits activity and the neurotransmitters and promotion of position preference.

Structure, Composition, and Properties of Silk from the African Wild Silkmoth, Anaphe panda (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae).

Silk cocoon nests, as well as the fiber structure, compositions, and properties of the African wild silkmoth, Anaphe panda, collected from Kakamega tropical rainforest (western Kenya) were studied using scanning electron microscopy, high-pressureliquid chromatography, tensile tests, and thermogravmetric analysis, and they were compared with the industrial standard, Bombyx mori. Cocoon nests are complex structures made up of inner, middle, and outer layers. The inner hard parchment was found to protect a mass of (20-200) individual soft flossy cocoons that enclose the pupae. The outer surface of the cocoon nests was covered with a mass of hair-like bristles. Fibers contained crescent-shaped and globular cross-sections with nods at regular intervals. Alanine (34%) and glycine (28%) were the dominant fibroin amino acids observed. Total weight loss after degumming the cocoon nest was 25.6%. Degummed fibers showed higher moisture regain of 9% when compared with cocoon nests (8%). The fibers had 0.4 GPa breaking stress and 15.4% breaking strain. Total weight loss values after thermogravimetric analysis were 86% and 90% for degummed fibers and cocoon shells, respectively.

Two unusual rotenoid derivatives, 7a-O-methyl-12a-hydroxydeguelol and spiro-13-homo-13-oxaelliptone, from the seeds of Derris trifoliata.

The crude methanol extract of the seeds of Derris trifoliata showed potent and dose dependent larvicidal activity against the 2nd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. From this extract two unusual rotenoid derivatives, a rotenoloid (named 7a-O-methyl-12a-hydroxydeguelol) and a spirohomooxarotenoid (named spiro-13-homo-13-oxaelliptone), were isolated and characterised. In addition a rare natural chromanone (6,7-dimethoxy-4-chromanone) and the known rotenoids rotenone, tephrosin and dehydrodeguelin were identified. The structures were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The larvicidal activity of the crude extract is mainly due to rotenone.

7a-O-methyldeguelol, a modified rotenoid with an open ring-C, from the roots of Derris trifoliata.

From the acetone extract of the roots of Derris trifoliata an isoflavonoid derivative, named 7a-O-methyldeguelol, a modified rotenoid with an open ring-C, representing a new sub-class of isoflavonoids (the sub-class is here named as rotenoloid), was isolated and characterised. In addition, the known rotenoids, rotenone, deguelin and alpha-toxicarol, were identified. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Rotenone and deguelin were identified as the larvicidal principles of the acetone extract of the roots of Derris trifoliata.