Schizonepeta

Schizonepeta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Schizonepeta
Binomial name
Schizonepeta
Georgi[1]

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.

Used as a medicinal herb, Schizonepeta tenuifolia, (family Lamiaceae), 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.[2] Schizonepeta also interrupts histamine release from mast cells to inhibit allergic reactions in rats.[3][4]

Chemistry

Schizonepeta tenuifolia contains the following constituents:[5]

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. "Schizonepeta information from NPGS/GRIN". USDA. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Jim English (2007). "Relieving Allergy-Induced Migraines". Nutrition Review 2 (2).
  5. 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.

External links

Data related to Lamiaceae at Wikispecies
Media related to Lamiaceae at Wikimedia Commons