Nepeta cataria from Kashmir

[Gurcharan Singh]

Nepeta cataria from Kashmir, commonly found in grazed areas and wastelands, photographed from Pampore on June 20, 2010

Common names: Catnip, Catmint

French: Cataire, Menthe des chats

German: Katzenminze

Spanish: Hierba gatera, Menta de gato

Leaves and shoots used as flavouring; dried leaves used in stews and soups; leaves chewed in toothache; oil of catnip obtained from herb.

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[tanay bose]

I could never understand the secret behind its common name being catnip !!

tanay

--
Tanay Bose
Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant
Department of Botany
University of British Columbia
3529-6270 University Blvd.
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 (Canada)
Phone: 778-323-4036

[Gurcharan Singh]

Dear Tanay 

Perhaps this may satisfy you (biochemical reason):

"The attraction of feline mammals to the odor of catnip (also called catmint) is not limited to domestic house cats. In fact, is is apparently attractive to all members of the cat family (Felidae), including lions and tigers. The chemical in catnip responsible for the unusual and comical behavior of cats is nepetalactone, a methylcyclopentane monoterpene. It is found in the leaves, stems and inforescences of catnip plants. Dried leaves, stems and flowers are placed in catnip toys and sold in natural food stores as a medicinal tea. Nepetalactone occurs naturally in cis-trans and trans-cis isomers. These isomers have slightly different 3-dimensional shapes with respect to the position of the methyl group on the cyclopentane component of the molecule. According to the Merck Index (1983), the cis-trans isomer comprises 70-99 percent of the nepetalactone in catnip plants." 

For more of this please go the original source:

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph37.htm

Perhaps now you won't ask that question again

[tanay bose]

Thanks Sir for the information !!

tanay

[Pankaj Kumar]

That informative!
Thanks a lot for sharing, but just wanted to know, is it of any use to
the plant in particular. I mean like the plant is pollinated by
cats!!!
Regards
Pankaj

[Gurcharan Singh]

Pankaj ji

Nepetalactone in catnip causes a hallucinogenic effect. Perhaps an answer and parallel may be found in finding how Cannabis, opium and other plants which are used by man are benefited by this. If we know the answer to the second question, the first is automatically answered.

Some more interesting fact about catnit:

It is believed that cats eat catnip to bruise the catnip & therefore release more of the nepetalactone. The high produced will usually last between five & ten minutes.

One interesting fact is that when sniffed, catnip will stimulate kitty, however when eaten it will act as a sedative.

Kittens younger than 8 weeks old aren't  able to enjoy it's effects. In fact, they show an aversion to it.

Cats can smell 1 part in a billion  in the air.

Cats are better than man in one respect. They won't overdose on it.  Most cats know when they've had enough & will refuse any further offers.

Interestingly, researchers say that nepetalactone is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitos than DEET, which is the active ingredient in most insect repellents. It was also discovered that catnip repels cockroaches too! 

-- 
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/