catnip
Nepeta cataria · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (644 studies) · ★★★★★
Catnip, scientifically known as Nepeta cataria, is a perennial herb in the mint family celebrated for its aromatic properties. Renowned for its calming effects on humans and irresistible attraction to cats, it has been used traditionally to aid sleep, soothe digestion, and reduce anxiety through its gentle, medicinal qualities.
Names
Common Names
- Cat Mint
- Cat-Mint
- Wild Catmint
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Nepeta minor
- Albahaca de gatos
- Nepeta macrura
- Menta gatuna
- Nepeta bodinieri
- Nepeta vulgaris
- Hierba gatera
- Nepeta citriodora
- Nepeta mollis
- Nepeta laurentii
- Catnip
- Yerba gatera
- Alhabaca
- Gatera alta
- Yerba del asmático
- Nepeta ruderalis
- Yerba del asmatico
- hierba gatera
- menta de gato
- Hierba del gato
- Menta gatuna
- Hierba de los gatos
German:
- Echte Katzenminze
- Gewöhnliche Katzenminze
- Katzenminze
- Katzenminze
- gewöhnliche Katzenminze
- Echte Katzenminze
- Echter Andorn
- Katzenmelisse
French:
- Cataire
- Menthe aux chats
- Menthe des chats
- Chataire
- Catnip
- herbe aux chats
- cataire
- chataire
- herbe aux chats
- herbe à chat
- herbe à chats
- népète chataire
- népéta cataire
- menthe des chats
- Nepeta chataire
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Nepeta catariaSynonyms
- Cataria vulgaris
- Glechoma macrura
- Nepeta tomentosa
- Nepeta macrura
- Calamintha albiflora
- Glechoma cataria
- Nepeta cataria f. laurentii
- Nepeta ceretana
- Nepeta citriodora
- Nepeta laurentii
- Nepeta minor
- Nepeta bodinieri
- Nepeta cataria var. citriodora
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, falling into the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Nepeta.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Nepeta | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical presence across several regions of Northern Europe. Within this part of the continent, it can be found growing in Denmark. Its distribution also extends into the Scandinavian territories of Norway and Sweden. Furthermore, the species is documented to inhabit the landscapes of Finland. Finally, its range reaches the islands of Great Britain.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
Chemicals
Nepeta cataria has 77 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Nepetalactone, GERANIOL, Pulegone, nerol, (E)-beta-farnesene.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Nepetalactone | 6 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| GERANIOL | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pulegone | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nerol | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (E)-beta-farnesene | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-hexenyl benzoate | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5,9-Dehydronepetalactone | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Epideoxyloganic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 7-Deoxyloganic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALUMINUM | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Nepetalactone
- Dr. Duke
- Scientific reports
- Journal of plant physiology
- Frontiers in plant science
- Chemistry & biodiversity
View 1 additional sources
- Journal of medical entomology
GERANIOL
- Dr. Duke
- Pharmacognosy research
Pulegone
- Dr. Duke
- Frontiers in plant science
nerol
- Dr. Duke
- Pharmacognosy research
(E)-beta-farnesene
- Dr. Duke
3-hexenyl benzoate
- Dr. Duke
5,9-Dehydronepetalactone
- Dr. Duke
5-Epideoxyloganic acid
- Dr. Duke
7-Deoxyloganic acid
- Dr. Duke
ALUMINUM
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Nepeta cataria has 526 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Anxiolytic, Insect-Repellent.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | Polish journal of microbiology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anxiolytic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Insect-Repellent | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ABeta-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AChE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AP-1-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Nepeta cataria has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Dengue virus, Gram-positive bacteria, Pseudomonas syringae, anxiety, asthma.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Dengue virus | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-positive bacteria | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas syringae | Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety | Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| asthma | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| penile erection | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sexual behavior | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound-healing | Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| essential oil | Polish journal of microbiology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N. cataria essential oil | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oils | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol | Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |