Catnip, The Herbal Medicine and Plant with Anti

Inflammatory Effects

By Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Scientists may have found a herbal medicine that process anti inflammatory
activity to protect our body from over expression of pro inflammatory
cytokines in causing damage to healthy cells in the infectious site without
reducing inflammatory cytokine activities.

Inflammation is a natural reaction of immune system which initial protein

signalling in stimulated production of inflammatory expression against foreign
organisms invasion.

However, under infectious condition, systematic inflammatory response in

some cases may be over overacted, leading to over production of pro
inflammatory cytokines such as TNF alpha,.... and
Interleukins (IL) 1 qnd 6. which are a group of cytokines expressed by white
blood cells of the immune system.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica wrote, "Like other cytokines, interleukins are not
stored within cells but are instead secreted rapidly, and briefly, in response to a
stimulus, such as an infectious agent. Once an interleukin has been produced, it
travels to its target cell and binds to it via a receptor molecule on the cell’s
surface" and "This interaction triggers a cascade of signals within the target
cell that ultimately alter the cell’s behaviour".

Catnip is also known as catswort, or catmint, a plant of Nepeta, belonging to

the family of Lamiaceae, native to Europe and Asia.

The herb has been use in herbal medicine as insect repellant and to treat
digestive disorders, children restlessness and nervousness, fevers, cold and flu,
skin irritationsstimulate sweating, promote menstruation, etc..

Ingredients
Beside the major constituent of terpenoid nepetalactone, the herb also contains
α-Pinene, β-Pinene, Cyclohexen-1-yl-methyl ketone, Triplal, Thymol,
Nepetalactone, Nepetalactone, etc.
In chronic related inflammation disease induced to 24 male Wister rats
weighing 225 ± 25 gm, essential oil of catnip at the doses of 50 mg/kg, 100 
mg/kg and 200 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally exert a significant effect in
reduced paw edema by alleviating symptoms of both the acute and chronic
forms of nociception, through its anti inflammatory effect(1).

Dr. Ali T, the lead scientists at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University, said, " NP 200 mg/kg reduced the pain sensation in tail flick (p
<0.01) and formalin test (p <0.001 in both phases). In paw edema test, NP 100
and 200 mg/kg significantly reduced the inflammation (p <0.01 and p
<0.05)"(1).

The efficacy of cantip in inhibited "chronic inflammation of experimental rats

was attributed to chemical constituents 4aα,7α,7aβ-nepetalactone and 1,8-
cineole which form major parts in phytochemicals of the herb.

The Tarbiat Modares University study also showed that Nepeta crispa essential
oil enhances anti-inflammatory effects in the formalin-induced paw
inflammation model and significantly reduced the paw edema(2).

More precisely, the essential oil injection amelioarted acute pain models,
including the tail-flick (p < 0.001) in the first phase of the formalin test (p < 
0.01) through production of analgesia(2).

In the late phase of the formalin test, the essential oil significantly reduced the
pain-induced behaviour against chronic pain(2).

Further more, in the study of extracts and isolated compounds tested against
calcineurin in its calmodulin-activated and basal un-activated state, herbal
catnip has a direct interaction with calcineurin through anti inflammatory
activity via modulation of T-cell in mediation of inflammation(30.

Dr. Prescott TA and the research team at the Royal Botanic Gardens suggested,
" Calcineurin inhibition should be considered as a potential mode of action
when investigating the immunomodulatory activity of caffeoyl phenyle anoid
glycoside containing plants"(3).

The findings suggested that herbal catnip may be considered as functional food
for treatment of acute and chronic inflammation without reducing function of
immune system in protected our body against infection.
However, large sample size and multi centers clinical studies during the course
of human consumption are necessary to re affirm the catnip anti inflammatory
possibility.

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Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers
have been written and published on line, including world wide health, ezine
articles, article base, healthblogs, selfgrowth, best before it's news, the karate
GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ
by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington
Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as
international journal Pharma and Bio science, ISSN 0975-6299.

References
(1) Evaluation of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of essential
oil of Nepeta pogonosperma Jamzad et Assadi in rats by Ali T, Javan M,
Sonboli A, Semnanian S.(PubMed)
(2) Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil of
Nepeta crispa Willd. in experimental rat models by Ali T, Javan M, Sonboli A,
Semnanian S.(PubMed)
(3) Direct inhibition of calcineurin by caffeoyl phenylethanoid glycosides from
Teucrium chamaedrys and Nepeta cataria by Prescott TA, Veitch NC,
Simmonds MS.(PubMed)
(4) Interleukin PROTEIN by Encyclopaedia Britannica