Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

REFERENCES

See the General References forCLAUS;EVANS;FEMA;GRIEVE;KARRER;JIANGSU;MARTINDALE;MERCK;
NANJING;TERRELL.

1. W. Gardner, Chemical Synonyms and
   Trade Names, 6th ed., The Technical
   Press, London, 1968, p. 182.


2. L. Merlini et al.,Tetrahedron, 23 , 3129
   (1967).


3. C. Cardani,Corsi Semin. Chim., 11 , 131
   (1968).


4. L. Merlini et al.,Phytochemistry, 11 ,
   1525 (1972).


5. K. C. Chan,Tetrahedron Lett., 30 , 3403
   (1968).
   6. J. S. K. Sham et al.,Planta Med., 50 , 177
   (1984).
   7. P. N. Chaudhari and V. G. Hatwalne,
   J. Vitaminol., 17 , 105 (1971).
   8. P. N. Chaudhari and V. G. Hatwalne,
   J. Vitaminol., 17 , 125 (1971).
   9. J. L. Hartwell,Lloydia, 33 , 97 (1970).


6. D. Ojha et al., Int. J. Lepr. Other
   Mycobact. Dis., 37 , 302 (1969).


7. A. Jain et al.,J. Ethnopharmacol., 90 , 171
   (2004).

CATNIP

Source: Nepeta cataria L. (Family
Lamiaceae).

Common/vernacular names:Catnep, catnip,
and catmint.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Gray, hairy, erect, branched perennial,
40–100 cm high; leaves ovate, crenate, base
cordate;2–8 cmlong;floweringinspike,white,
tinged with purple; native to southern and east-
ern Europe; widely naturalized elsewhere in
Europe and North America, Central Asia, and
the Iranian plateaus; commercially harvested
fromnaturalizedpopulationsinVirginia,North
Carolina; cultivated in Washington, Europe,
and Argentina. Part used is the flowering tops
and the essential oil obtained from steam
distillation.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Contains0.3–1%essentialoilconsistingmainly
of terpenoids, nepetalic acid,b-caryophyllene,

nepetalic anhydride, plus high amounts of

nepetalactone (GUENTHER) and its two isomers,

(E,Z- andZ,E-nepetalactone), plus 5,9-dehy-

dronepetalactone,dihydronepetalactone,isodi-

hydronepetalactone, and neonepetalactone;1,2

highamounts of geranyl acetate,citronellyl ac-

etate, citronellol, geraniol,^3 geranial (citral a),

andneral(citralb);alsob-caryophyllene,nerol,

humuline, limonene,b-pinene, myrcene,b-

ocimene,^4 carvacrol, pulegone, thymol, and

others; plant also contains tannins (LIST AND

HO ̈RHAMMER); iridoids, including 1,5,9-epide-

oxyloganic acid^5 and 7-deoxyloganic acid.^6

PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL

ACTIVITIES

Best known for its ability to elicit behavioral

responses in cats, including sniffing, licking,

and chewing with head shaking, chin and

cheek rubbing, sexual stimulation, and

head-over rolling and body rubbing; known

as ‘‘the catnip response.’’^2 The response is

observed in domestic and large cats, such as

lions, jaguars, tigers, leopards, and others

following exposure to the odor of the plant;

however, not all cats, domestic or large, re-

spond; outgoing cats respond well, whereas

Catnip 159