Pankaj ji Nepetalactone in catnip causes a hallucinogenic effect. Perhaps an answer and parallel may be found in finding how Cannabis, opium and other plants which are used by man are benefited by this. If we know the answer to the second question, the first is automatically answered.
Some more interesting fact about catnit: It is believed that cats eat catnip to bruise the catnip & therefore release more of the nepetalactone. The high produced will usually last between five & ten minutes. One interesting fact is that when sniffed, catnip will stimulate kitty, however when eaten it will act as a sedative. Kittens younger than 8 weeks old aren't able to enjoy it's effects. In fact, they show an aversion to it. Cats can smell 1 part in a billion in the air. Cats are better than man in one respect. They won't overdose on it. Most cats know when they've had enough & will refuse any further offers. Interestingly, researchers say that nepetalactone is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitos than DEET, which is the active ingredient in most insect repellents. It was also discovered that catnip repels cockroaches too! -- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 11:03 AM, Pankaj Kumar <[email protected]>wrote: > That informative! > Thanks a lot for sharing, but just wanted to know, is it of any use to > the plant in particular. I mean like the plant is pollinated by > cats!!! > Regards > Pankaj > > > > On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 10:51 AM, tanay bose <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Thanks Sir for the information !! > > tanay > > > > On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 9:34 AM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> > >> Dear Tanay > >> Perhaps this may satisfy you (biochemical reason): > >> "The attraction of feline mammals to the odor of catnip (also called > >> catmint) is not limited to domestic house cats. In fact, is is > apparently > >> attractive to all members of the cat family (Felidae), including lions > and > >> tigers. The chemical in catnip responsible for the unusual and comical > >> behavior of cats is nepetalactone, a methylcyclopentane monoterpene. It > is > >> found in the leaves, stems and inforescences of catnip plants. Dried > leaves, > >> stems and flowers are placed in catnip toys and sold in natural food > stores > >> as a medicinal tea. Nepetalactone occurs naturally in cis-trans and > >> trans-cis isomers. These isomers have slightly different 3-dimensional > >> shapes with respect to the position of the methyl group on the > cyclopentane > >> component of the molecule. According to the Merck Index (1983), the > >> cis-trans isomer comprises 70-99 percent of the nepetalactone in catnip > >> plants." > >> For more of this please go the original source: > >> http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph37.htm > >> Perhaps now you won't ask that question again > >> > >> On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 9:19 AM, tanay bose <[email protected]> > wrote: > >>> > >>> I could never understand the secret behind its common name being catnip > >>> !! > >>> tanay > >>> > >>> On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 7:22 AM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> > >>> wrote: > >>>> > >>>> Nepeta cataria from Kashmir, commonly found in grazed areas and > >>>> wastelands, photographed from Pampore on June 20, 2010 > >>>> Common names: Catnip, Catmint > >>>> French: Cataire, Menthe des chats > >>>> German: Katzenminze > >>>> Spanish: Hierba gatera, Menta de gato > >>>> Leaves and shoots used as flavouring; dried leaves used in stews and > >>>> soups; leaves chewed in toothache; oil of catnip obtained from herb. > >>>> -- > >>>> Dr. Gurcharan Singh > >>>> Retired Associate Professor > >>>> SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 > >>>> Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. > >>>> Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 > >>>> http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ > >>>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> -- > >>> Tanay Bose > >>> Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant > >>> Department of Botany > >>> University of British Columbia > >>> 3529-6270 University Blvd. > >>> Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 (Canada) > >>> Phone: 778-323-4036 > >>> > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Dr. Gurcharan Singh > >> Retired Associate Professor > >> SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 > >> Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. > >> Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 > >> http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > Tanay Bose > > Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant > > Department of Botany > > University of British Columbia > > 3529-6270 University Blvd. > > Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 (Canada) > > Phone: 778-323-4036 > > > > >
