NEPETA CATARIA
| Nepeta cataria | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Flowers of the plant | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Nepeta |
| Species: | N. cataria |
| Binomial name | |
| Nepeta cataria |
|
Nepeta cataria (catnip, catswort, or catmint) is a species of the genus Nepeta in the Lamiaceae family, native to much of Asia and Europe, and widely naturalized elsewhere.[1] The common names may also refer to the genus as a whole. It is a 50–100 cm tall herbaceous perennial resembling mint in appearance, with greyish-green leaves; the flowers are white, finely spotted with purple.
Cultivation
Variants include N. cataria var. citriodora (or subsp. citriodora), lemon catnip.
Toxicology
The plant terpenoid nepetalactone is the main chemical constituent of the essential oil of Nepeta cataria. Nepetalactone can be extracted from catnip by steam distillation.[2]
Uses and effects
Humans
Catnip has a history of medicinal use for a variety of ailments.[3] The plant has been consumed as a tea, juice, tincture, infusion or poultice, and has also been smoked.[3] However, its medicinal use has fallen out of favor with the development of more effective drugs.[3] It has also been known to have a slightly numbing effect.[citation needed]
Cats
Nepeta cataria (and other species within the genus Nepeta) are known for their behavioral effects on the cat family, not only on domestic cats but also big cats.[3] N. cataria
is used as a recreational substance for pet cats' enjoyment, and catnip
and catnip-laced products designed for use with domesticated cats are
available to consumers. Not all cats are affected by catnip.[3]
The common behaviors when cats sense the bruised leaves or stems of
catnip are rubbing on the plant, rolling on the ground, pawing at it,
licking it, and chewing it. Consuming much of the plant is followed by
drooling, sleepiness, anxiety, leaping about and purring. Some will
growl, meow,
scratch, or bite the hand holding it. Some cats will eat dried catnip;
often eating too much can cause cats to be aggressive, typically making
them hiss.[citation needed]Pharmacology
Nepetalactone acts as a feline attractant. Roughly half to two thirds of cats will be affected by the plant. [4][5] This chemical enters the feline's nose. [6] Cats detect it through their olfactory epithelium, not through their vomeronasal organ. [7] At the olfactory epithelium, the nepetalactone binds to one or more olfactory receptors. Some[who?] have speculated that it may mimic a cat pheromone, such as the hypothetical feline facial pheromone or the cat urine odorant MMB. However, this has not been tested. Approximately two hours after an exposure, the feline will be sensitive to another dose.[citation needed] The phenomenon is hereditary.[citation needed] There is some disagreement about the susceptibility of lions and tigers to catnip.[8]
Other plants that also have this effect on cats include valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and plants that contain actinidine.[9]
Other
Nepetalactone is a mosquito and fly repellent.[10][11]
Oil isolated from catnip by steam distillation is a repellent against
insects, in particular mosquitoes, cockroaches and termites.[12][13] Research suggests that, in vitro, distilled nepetalactone repels mosquitoes ten times more effectively than DEET, the active ingredient in most insect repellents,[10][14] but that it is not as effective a repellent when used on the skin.[15]
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