Plants catnip

There are several remaining herbs that are reputed to have sedative effects skullcap, geranium, hops, and catnip. However, the neuropharmacological mechanisms have not been well characterized, and behavioral data in animals and humans are lacking. The existing knowledge on these plants is presented here. 

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... 

A Verticillaster is a compact, cymose flower cluster which resembles a whorl, but really consists of two glomerules situated in the axils of opposite leaves. Clusters of this kind are seen in Catnip, Hore-hound. Peppermint and other plants of the Labiatm. 

How to Attract To attract adult soldier beetles, plant goldenrod, milkweed, hydrangeas, or catnip. To protect pupating beetles, maintain some permanent plantings where soil is not disturbed. 

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). 

All of these components possess the molecular formula C10HJ6O2 (mw 168 amu). Among these, the former two compounds are the reduced form nepetalactones [5], which is the main component of catnip, Nepeta cataria (Labiatae), known as a favorite plant of cats in the United States. The latter two components are also present in the postbinary anal gland secretions of the Argentina ant Iridomyrmex humilis) and Iridomyrmex nitidus and work as defensive substances [6—8].Therefore, these Cjo compounds with such skeleton are sometimes called iridoids. 

The bitter iridoid monoterpenes usually occur as glycosides (see Chapter 4). Non-glycosidic iridoids include the sedative valepotriates found in valerian—Valeriana spp. (Valerianaceae). They are closely related to nepetalactone, the volatile component of essential oil of catnip, Nepeta cataria (Lamiaceae), responsible for attracting cats to the plant. 

Nepetalactone is the active ingredient of catnip. It is isolated as an oil from the plant Nepata cataria. Show that it is a terpene (i.e., that its carbon skeleton can be divided into isoprene units). Is the molecule chiral How many stereoisomers are possible ... 

Figure 6.12 Some examples of iridoids. Iridomyrmecin and dolichodial are from ants, chrysomelidial from a leaf beetle larva, anisomorphalfrom a stick insect, nepetalactone from aphids and the catnip plant, loganin from Strychnos fruits and Hydrangea bark, and actinidine accompanies iridoids in many species...

The catnip plant (Nepeta cataria) that provides cats with endless intrigue and entertainment has also been reputed to have insect-repelling activity (Table 5.1). In 1964, Thomas Eisner showed that several species of insects, including beetles, hemipterans, a caddisfly, and an ant, moved away from... 

Sublethal doses of common insecticides have been discussed as push components for an Aedes aegypti control strategy. ° " ° ° Other studies have examined noninsecticidal spatial repellents, such as catnip, ° " linalool, commercial repellents, or outdoor plantations of mosquito-repelling plants. ... 

Bernier et al. extensively reviewed attraction-inhibitors. Included in the review were compounds produced by plants such as catnip oil (specifically the isomers of nepetalactone), geraniol, linalool, citronellol and citronellal, and human-produced compounds. In human-produced compounds, attraction-inhibition was observed for some carboxylic acids (saturated acid combinations of Cg-C,o... 

---