Nepeta cataria L. (Lamiaceae)

Abstract

It is native of southeast Europe, southwest Asia and western temperate Himalayas, and is naturalized in the United States, and many other countries. Ibn al-Baitar quoting Dioscorides and other authors described it as a grass that smells like orange, and mentioned the Greek names as Malsoonan and Maletana . As cardiotonic being its main property it is useful for angina, and protection of heart from diseases and the effects of black-bile vapors; and being useful in all phlegmatic and black-bile originated diseases (Avicenna). It is also useful for discomfort, anxiety and stress (Rhazes). Above all a digestive herb, catnip relieves all abdominal cramps, flatulence and intestinal pain. It expels winds and reduces discomfort without impeding normal digestive processes. It is used in Wales to stop persistent coughs and hiccups; and is prescribed as a safe yet efficient pain killer, especially suitable for children’s aches and pains. The scent of the volatile oil responsible for characteristic stimulatory response in cats is due to the presence of nepetalactones, the major chemical components of catnip constituting 70–99% of the volatile oil (especially cis-trans-nepetalactone). Interestingly, the effects in cats are produced only when it is smelled, not when it is administered orally. Nepetalactone is somewhat similar in its chemical structure to the valepotriates, the sedative principle of valerian, which may be responsible for its use as sleeping aid. Catnip oil and nepetalic acid significantly increase hexobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice, and decrease performance of rats trained on a Sidman avoidance schedule, but develop behavioral tolerance after daily injections of catnip oil. Myorelaxant activity of the EO, mediated possibly through dual inhibition of calcium channels and PDE, has also been reported.