Effects of the active constituents of catha edulis on the neuromuscular junction

Abstract

-( - )-Cathinone and d-norpseudoephedrine (ONE) in the dose range 0.2-1.2 mg/ml produced a reduction in contractions of skeletal muscle, evoked by direct and indirect electrical stimulation and antagonised the facilitatory action of physostigmine on the neuromuscular junction; but failed to antagonise a partial blockade induced by d-tubocurarine (dTb) as occurs with norepinephrine or epinephrine. The local anaesthetic actions of ( - )-cathinone and ONE were found to be almost equivalent to that of lignocaine. These results indicate that (- )-cathinone and ONE may have a direct blocking action on the neuromuscular junction, which is independent of cholinergic and adrenergic transmission.