Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.): Recent Advances in Pharmacognosy, Cultivation, Chemical Composition and Biological Activity

Plant preparations are said to be medicinal or herbal when they are used to promote health beyond basic nutrition. It is indeed quite interesting to observe that our ancients were duly equipped with the vast, in depth and elaborated knowledge of drugs from the vegetable origin but unfortunately they possessed a scanty knowledge with regard to the presence of chemically pure compounds in most of them. The genus Nepeta L. (catmint), a large genus of the family Lamiaceae, is named after the ancient Italian City of Nephi It is also known as Glechoma and Cataria and it contains about 280 annual and perennial species, the majority of which are aromatic plants native to temperate Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America. The wide variety and high content of terpenoid, flavonoid and phenolic compounds of Nepeta species provide diverse pharmacological effects, justifying its traditional utilization for medicinal purposes. Nepeta cataria (catnip or catmint, N. cataria), an aromatic perennial herb, belongs to genus Nepeta of Lamiaceae family and has been well known for its medicinal and therapeutic values. The name Cataria has been originated from Cathus, an old Latin word, which mean of cats. Like other aromatic plants which have showed flavoring and medicinal properties and act as renewable source for the same, N. cataria has also been known for its essential oil and secondary metabolites, which showed tremendous applications in pharmaceutical, agrochemical and food industries. It was shown by the different research groups that the essential oil and different extracts isolated from N. cataria have been a rich source of nepetalactones and related compounds (iridoids), which have been mainly responsible for different biological activities of the plant, viz. cat attractant, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic activities, as well as sedative, antidepressant, spasmolytic, anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Experiments show that this plant influences sexual activity, and expresses anticancer properties. Antimicrobial activity against a number of bacteria is also noted, as well as repellent and insecticidal properties. Nematodidal and allelopathic effects are also noted. This review emphasizes on latest information regarding the botany, distribution, cultivation taxonomy, traditional uses and more focused on phytochemistry, pharmacology.