Although only Nepeta cataria is familiar to most people, Nepeta is a large genus, with about 250 species widely distributed in the Old World, excluding Australia. Like many mints, catnip is both ornamental and used as a flavorful beverage tea, but it is better known for its appeal to cats, for whom it is a sort of recreational drug. The pleasurable effect of catnip may be chemically related to the response to feline sexual pheromones, and cats under six months old generally do not respond; some cats are genetically unsusceptible. Occasional human attempts to use catnip recreationally are not very successful, and may have originated from the fact that some people have somehow managed to confuse catnip with marijuana. However, catnip is a medicinal plant for humans. It is used as a mild sedative (considered especially suitable for small children) and to treat colic, gas, respiratory infections, fevers, and headache.

As with most mints, catnip contains compounds with antibacterial and antiviral activity, and as with most mints, no significant research has been done to confirm the supposed bioactivities that have long made catnip a popular botanical. Limited evidence tends to support the possibility that catnip has a mild sedative effect, but no human trials have been conducted. At least, catnip tea is a pleasant traditional beverage, and as such may be presumed harmless when consumed in moderation. One animal study has reported that feeding mice enormous doses of catnip increased their susceptibility to seizures induced by toxic drugs. One might therefore wonder whether people who are prone to seizures should avoid excessive catnip consumption, although no specific evidence supports this concern.

Selected References

Baranauskiene, R., R. P. Venskutonis, and J. C. Demyttenaere. 2003. Sensory and instrumental evaluation of catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) aroma. J. Agric. Food Chem. 51:3840-3848.

Jamzad, Z. 2001. A phylogenetic study of Nepeta L. (Lamiaceae). Ph.D. Dissertation, Birkbeck College, University of London.

Jamzad, Z., M. W. Chase, M. Ingrouille, M. S. J. Simmonds, and A. Jalili. 2003. Phylogenetic relationships in Nepeta L. (Lamiaceae) and related genera based on ITS sequence data. Taxon 52:21-32.

Kolalite, M. R. 1998. Comparative analysis of ultrastructure of glandular trichomes in two Nepeta cataria chemotypes (N. cataria and N. cataria var. citriodora). Nordic J. Bot. 18:589-598.

Massoco, C. O., M. R. Silva, S. L. Gorniak, M. S. Spinosa, and M. M. Bernardi. 1995. Behavioral effects of acute and long-term administration of catnip (Nepeta cataria) in mice. Vet. Hum. Toxicol. 37:530-533.

Mathew, B. 1972. Nepeta. Pp. 158-160 in: T. G. Tutin et al., eds. Flora Europaea, vol. 3. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.