withdrawn cats respond poorly. Nepetalactone
or catnip oil elicit the response when applied
as an odor,^2 but not when administered orally
or by i.p. injection.^7 Acute doses of catnip
in mice (10% of diet) increased locomotion
frequencies, rearing, and susceptibility to in-
duced seizures and decreased sodium pento-
barbital-induced sleeping time. Short-term
effects were ‘‘amphetamine-like,’’ whereas
long-term administration produced tolerance
with adaptative changes.^8
Diethyl ether extract of plant and nepeta-
lactones have shownin vitroantibacterial and
antifungal activities.9,10Vapors of nepetalac-
tone have shown repellent activity in 13 fami-
lies of insects.^11 The essential oil and the two
isomers of nepetalactone have shown insect
repellent activity to subterranean termites
(Reticulitermesspp)^12 and to male German
cockroaches (Blattella germanica);E,Z-nepe-
talactoneshowedgreaterrepellentactivitythan
DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide).^13
TOXICOLOGY
As 10% of the diet of pregnant mice, the dried
leaves decreased maternal body weight and
reduced fetal, placental, and offspring
weights; some organ development delayed in
both sexes.^14 Others have reported increased
food consumption in mice administered cat-
nip.^8 A hypotonic episode (CNS depression
lasting approximately 60 h) was reported in a
19-month-old male who ingested raisons
soaked in a commercial catnip tea.^15
USES
Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Essential oil used in cosmetics and perfumes.^4
Food. The leaves and flowering tops have
been used as a flavoring in sauces and cooked
foods; dried in mixtures for soups, stews, and
so on (DUKE2).Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Tops in
teas; pleasant-tasting, mint-like characteristic
(FOSTER).Traditional Medicine. American Indian
uses include colds, fever, colic, sedative, sleep
aid, headaches, constipation, diarrhea, rheu-
matism and pains in babies, and tea; also used
as a diaphoretic; majority of uses in infants
(MOERMAN). Used in Europe in the treatment of
colds, fever, headaches, insanity, restlessness,
nervousness, flatulence; bruised leaves in
ointment for hemorrhoids; also diaphoretic,
antispasmodic, and mild stimulant; children’s
remedy (GRIEVE).Others. Dried, loosely powdered leaves
alone and as stuffing in cat toys; nepetalac-
tones commercially derived from catnip used
in the production of aphid sex pheromones
(insect attractants).^16 Oil formerly used as an
attractant in wild cat traps (DUKE2).COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONSCrude herb; extracts, essential oil; formerly
official in both N.F. and U.S.P.Regulatory Status. Regulated in the United
States as a dietary supplement. Formerly
included in U.S.P. (1840–1870) and N.F.
(IV–VII).REFERENCES
See the General References forCSIR VII;DER MARDEROSIAN AND BEUTLER;DUKE2;GUENTHER;HARBOURNE
AND BAXTER;LIST AND HO ̈RHAMMER;GRIEVE;MCGUFFIN1&2;SIMON,STEINMETZ;TUTIN3;TYLER1–3; uphof;
wren.
160 Catnip