Catnip (Nepeta cataria) Research

Latin Name: Nepeta cataria

Family: Lamiaceae

Most cats respond with ridiculous behavior to catnip because of its nepetalactone constituent.  Humans have smoked and inhaled catnip for a relaxing and euphoric affect.  The plant also has an insect repelling benefit.

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

RESEARCH

GENERAL

• DUDA, S., MĂRGHITAŞ, L. A., DEZMIREAN, D., & BOBIŞ, O. (2015). Overview Regarding the Bioactivity of Agastache foeniculum and Nepeta cataria Species. Bulletin of the University of Agricultural Sciences & Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Animal Science & Biotechnologies, 72(1).

SAFETY

• Not recommended for children or pregnant women.
• Can promote menstruation; not recommended for those who have heavy menstruation (WebMD, n.d.)
• ​Catnip may have a sedative effect and increase the effect of sedative medications (WebMD, n.d.).
• These herbs have been used as a folk remedy to induce abortion and as a birth control for Pakistan women.  Avoid in large quantities beyond normal food amounts with pregnancy:  Artemisia maritime, Boerhavaia diffusa, Buddleja asiatica, Chrysanthemum parthenium, Justacia adhatod, Ricinus communis, Zingiber officinale, Daucus crota, Momordica charantia, Plumbago zeylanica, Sapindus mukorossi, Plantago ovata, Tanacetum vulgare, Arctium lappa, Amaranthus viridis, Achyranthes aspera, Ricinus communis, Mentha arvensis, Nepeta cataria, Cuscuta reflexa, Curcuma longa, Foeniculum vulgare, Butea monosperma, Albizia lebbeck, Ficus religosa, and Mentha longifolia.  From:  Shah, G. M., Khan, M. A., Ahmad, M., Zafar, M., & Khan, A. A. (2009). Observations on antifertility and abortifacient herbal drugs. African Journal of biotechnology, 8(9).

SEDATIVE

• Catnip may have a sedative effect on humans.  From:  Osterhoudt, K. C., Lee, S. K., Callahan, J. M., & Henretig, F. M. (1997). Catnip and the alteration of human consciousness. Veterinary and human toxicology, 39(6), 373-375.
• Catnip had a CNS depressing effect when fed to mice.  From:  Massoco, C. O., Silva, M. R., Gorniak, S. L., Spinosa, M. S., & Bernardi, M. M. (1995). Behavioral effects of acute and long-term administration of catnip (Nepeta cataria) in mice. Veterinary and human toxicology, 37(6), 530-533.

INSECTICIDAL / PESTICIDAL / LARVICIDAL / REPELLENT

• Nepeta scrophularioides (catnip) demonstrated pesticidal activities.  From:  Gharbani, P., & Javazi, H. (2015). The antioxidant, general toxicity and insecticidal activities of Nepeta scrophularioides Rech. f. extracts in different developmental stages. Pak. J. Pharm. Sci, 28(5 Suppl), 1905-1909.
• Against larvae Spodoptera littoralis the following oils showed insecticidal activity: catnip,  white cedar, clary sage, thyme,  marjoram, patchouli, pennyroyal, lemon mint, Melissa, and lavender.  From: Pavela, R. (2005). Insecticidal activity of some essential oils against larvae of Spodoptera littoralis. Fitoterapia, 76(7), 691-696.
• Essential oils were tested against the yellow fever mosquito,  the malaria vector, and the filariasis and encephalitis vector.  The five most effective oils were those of Litsea cubeba (litsea), Melaleuca leucadendron (cajeput), Melaleuca quinquenervia (niaouli), Viola odorata (violet), and Nepeta cataria (catnip), with a protection time of 8 hours at 100% repellency against all three species.  From:  Amer, A., & Mehlhorn, H. (2006). Repellency effect of forty-one essential oils against Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex mosquitoes. Parasitology research, 99(4), 478-490.
• This study warrants further research of the use of the following plant essential oils to repel insects such as the mosquitos Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles minimus:  citronella, hairy basil, catnip, and vetiver.  From:  Tisgratog, R., Sanguanpong, U., Grieco, J. P., Ngoen-Kluan, R., & Chareonviriyaphap, T. (2016). Plants traditionally used as mosquito repellents and the implication for their use in vector control. Acta tropica, 157, 136-144.

RESPIRATORY AID

• Medicinal plants reputed in traditional medicine with modern some research for treating asthma and coughs included: Aspalathus linearis (rooibos), Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort), Andropogon muricatus (vetiver), Juniper excelsa (Greek juniper), Nepeta cataria (catnip), Hyocyamus niger (henbane), Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort), Fumaria parviflora (fineleaf fumitory), Terminalia bellerica (bahera), Acorus calamus (calamus), Carum roxburghianum (radhuni), Lens culinaris (lentils), and Lepidium sativum (cress).   From:  Khan, A. U., & Gilani, A. H. (2015). Natural Products Useful in Respiratory Disorders: Focus on Side‐Effect Neutralizing Combinations. Phytotherapy Research, 29(9), 1265-1285.

DIURETIC

• A compilation of research showed the following herbs to have a diuretic effect:  yarrow, lemon verbena, pineapple, dill, gorden asparagus, mugwort, oats, barberry, Indian tree, turnip, marigold, chicory, lemon, cucumber, pumpkin seed, quince, carrot, flax weed, horsetail, asafetida, fig, barely, St. John’s wort, bay, alfalfa, European pennyroyal, mulberry, water cress, catnip, black cumin, parsley, green bean, pistachio, cherry, pomegranate, purstane, savory, tomato, brinjal, tea, haritali, coltsfoot, nettle, bell bean, and corn.  From:  Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Khoddami, M., Khazraei, H. R., Dehkordil, E. B., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2017). Hypolipidemic herbals with diuretic effects: A systematic review. In Biol. Sci (Vol. 8, pp. 21-28).

PAIN

• Research on analgesic activities of essential oils is reviewed. Included is: wild caraway (Bunium persicum ), lemon (Citrus limon), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora), clove (Eugenia caryophyllata), hogweed (Heracleum persicum), Hofmeisteria schaffneri, bushmint (Hyptis fruticosa), star anise (Illicum lanceolatum), verbenea (Lippia gracilis), chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Cuban mint (Mentha x villosa), catmint (Nepeta crispa Willd), basil (Ocimum basilicum), Peperomia serpens, Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus, long pepper (Piper alyreanum), Summer savory (Satureja hortensis), Senecio rufinervis, Tetradenia riparia, Teucrium stocksianum, Ugni myricoides, valerian (Valeriana wallichii), Xylopia laevigata, and candeeiro (Vanillosmopsis arborea). From: Sarmento-Neto, J., do Nascimento, L., Felipe, C., & de Sousa, D. (2015). Analgesic potential of essential oils. Molecules, 21(1), 20.

CATS

• Two out of three cats will have a euphoric response to the aroma of catnip. About half of the cats responded to honeysuckle and valerian. From: Bol, S., Caspers, J., Buckingham, L., Anderson-Shelton, G. D., Ridgway, C., Buffington, C. T., … & Bunnik, E. M. (2017). Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and catnip (Nepeta cataria). BMC veterinary research, 13(1), 70. Read more: Link

Compiled By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 10/29/19