Nepeta cataria

Combine elder with catnip Nepeta cataria) leaves to quiet a colicky baby. 

Smoking the leaves of catnip (Nepeta cataria) produces only mild effects in man. However, the pure active agent, cis, trans-nepetalactone, seems not to have been tested on man. Seeds are available from several companies and the freshly picked leaves are probably more potent. Catnip is not orally active in cats, For synthesis see Corsi Semin, chim. 11,93(1968) et seq. BCSJ 22,1737(1960) Proc. Chem. Soc. 166(1963). JOC 37,3376 (1972) gives a synthesis of dihydronepetalactone (more attractive to cats than nepetalactone). 

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a coarse green-grey leaved perennial plant with spotted white tubular flowers (Kowalchick and Hylton 1987). It has a long recorded history of use, extending back to... 

Harney JW, Barofsky IM, Leary JD. (1978). Behavioral and toxicological studies of cyclopentanoid monoterpenes from Nepeta cataria. Lloydia. 41(4) 367-74. 

Massoco CO, Silva MR, Gorniak SL, Spinosa MS, Bernard MM. (1995). Behavioral effects of acute and long-term administration of catnip (Nepeta cataria) in mice. Vet Hum Toxicol. 37(6) 530-33. 

Sherry CJ, Hunter PS. (1979). The effect of an ethanol extract of catnip (Nepeta cataria) on the behavior of the young chick. Experientia. 35(2) 237-38. 

Nepetalactone (Fig. 11.5c), a monoterpene lactone (or iridoid) from the volatile oil of catmint, Nepeta cataria, excites domestic cats and other felids (Todd, 1962 Palen and Goddard, 1966 Hill etal, 1976). 

Evidence of repellent properties in camip, Nepeta cataria, to flies and cockroaches was observed in preliminary studies.This study compared catnip essential oil obtained by steam distillation and elemol (Fig. 8), a major constituent of osage orange essential oil, to current commercial repellents. These comparative studies found both the camip steam distillate and elemol to be as good, and in some cases better, at repelling house... 

Simple iridoids are volatile iridoids of which the best known is the cat-exciting nepetalactone (C5 C50L) from Nepeta cataria (catnip) (Lamiaceae). The lactone nepetalactone, the hemiacetal neomatatabiol (G51G50H), iridodiol (in the ring opened bi-aldehyde... 

Cataria N.F. UnofScial Leaves and flowering tops Nepeta Cataria Europe and Asia... 

While, nepetalactone, the essential oil of catrup Nepeta cataria) that gives the plant its characteristic aroma, has been reported to be about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEBT 49). 

Naturally occurring iridoids and their glycosides are widely distributed in plants and serve as important taxonomic markers. The iridoids were named after ants of the genus Iridomirmex, from which iridodial, iridomyrmecin, and related compounds were isolated and found to be involved in the defense mechanisms of these insects. Similar structures also exist in plants for example nepetalactone from Nepeta cataria L. (Lamiaceae), or teucriumlactone C from Teucrium marum L. have marked properties (the effects of the former on cats earned it some evocative names catnip, Katzenmelisse, herbe-aux-chats). 

Nepeta cataria Linn. (Catnip) an erect, hoary, pubescent, perennial herb 60-100 cm, high, found in western temperate Himalayas from Dalhousie to Kashmir, upto altitude of 1,500 m. Leaves ovate, coarsely, crenate flowers white, dotted with purple nutlets broadly oblong, smooth, brownish black. 

On the other hand, some iridoids are able to attract certain felines, like iridolactones from Actinidia polygama [16] o Nepeta cataria [17]. 

Nepeta cataria-. Catnip is psychotropic for cats, especially housecats, but active in most species of Felidae. The volatile fraction contains a number of compounds... 

The odoriferous glands of the beetle Staphylinus oleus (Coleoptera staphy-linidae) produce iridodial (88), but without 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one, with which it is associated in ants. 5,9-Dehydronepetalactone (89) has been identified in Nepeta cataria. Newly reported iridoids include the first chlorine-containing iridoid, linarioside (90), isolated from Linaria japonica In addition to the usual spectral methods of identification, it was converted into antirrhino-side (91), a constituent of Linaria vulgaris. Antirrhinoside (91) is converted by... 

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