Schizonepeta

Schizonepeta (Japanese catnip) is a genus of herbs. It should not be confused with the true catnips of the genus Nepeta (also Lamiaceae) known for their euphoria-inducing effect on domestic cats.

Schizonepeta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Subfamily: Nepetoideae
Tribe: Mentheae
Genus: Schizonepeta
(Benth.) Briq.

Used as a medicinal herb, Schizonepeta tenuifolia is cultivated chiefly in the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jiangxi, China. The above-ground parts are collected in autumn, or early winter, and dried in the shade.

Its Chinese name is jing jie (荊芥) pronounced jīng jiè (pinyin). Other names include Herba seu Flos Schizonepetae Tenuifoliae, keigai (Japanese), and hyonggae (Korean).

Extracts

In animal studies, Schizonepeta tenuifolia extracts in high doses exhibit immunomodulation of the inflammatory response by regulating cytokine release, specifically the release of Th1 and Th2 cytokines from T cells as well as the unprimed CD4 T cells from differentiating into Th1 and Th2 cells.[1] Schizonepeta also interrupts histamine release from mast cells to inhibit allergic reactions in rats.[2][3]

Chemistry

Schizonepeta tenuifolia contains the following constituents:[4]

four monoterpenes: (−)-menthone, (+)-pulegone, (−)-limonene and (+)-menthofuran as the main bio-active and toxic constituents.
additional compounds: 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, β-myrcene, and β-caryophyllene.

See also

References
  1. Kang, H; Oh, YJ; Choi, HY; Ham, IH; Bae, HS; Kim, SH; Ahn, KS (2008). "Immunomodulatory effect of Schizonepeta tenuifolia water extract on mouse Th1/Th2 cytokine production in-vivo and in-vitro". The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 60 (7): 901–7. doi:10.1211/jpp.60.7.0012. PMID 18549677. S2CID 33574473.
  2. Shin TY; Jeong HJ; Jun SM; Chae HJ; Kim HR; Baek SH; Kim HM (1999). "Effect of Schizonepeta tenuifolia extract on mast cell-mediated immediate-type hypersensitivity in rats". Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 21 (4): 705–715. doi:10.3109/08923979909007136. PMID 10584206.
  3. Jim English (2007). "Relieving Allergy-Induced Migraines". Nutrition Review. 2 (2).
  4. Yu, S; Chen, Y; Zhang, L; Shan, M; Tang, Y; Ding, A (2011). "Quantitative Comparative Analysis of the Bio-Active and Toxic Constituents of Leaves and Spikes of Schizonepeta tenuifolia at Different Harvesting Times". International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 12 (10): 6635–44. doi:10.3390/ijms12106635. PMC 3210999. PMID 22072908.
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