Catnip
Nepeta cataria
Catnip research includes work focused on the pest-repelling ability of nepetalactones, which are isomers produced by the plant. Researchers are currently working on developing new cultivars of catnip which produce higher yields of nepetalactones, and new pest repellant products which can be used to stop the spread of insect-borne diseases.
Publications
2024. Allen, K.A., E.N. Gomes, A. Lockhart, Q.L. Wu, R. Di and J.E. Simon. Short-Term Salicylic Acid Application Induces the Expression of GPPS and NEPS1 in Catnip. Theoretical and Experimental Physiology:(in press).
2023. Allen, K.A., E. N. Gomes, H. Patel and J.E. Simon. Vegetative propagation of Nepeta cataria and the inhibitory effects of its essential oil on the adventitious rooting of cultivated Lamiaceae species, JMAP 12 (2):18-31. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/jmap/vol12/iss2/2
2023. Patel, H, E.N. Gomes, Q.L Wu, N. Patel, D.Y. Kobayashi, C. Wang and J.E. Simon. Volatile metabolites from new cultivars of catnip and oregano (Lamiaceae) as potential antibacterial and insect repellent agents. Frontiers in Plant Science 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1124305
2023. Gomes, E.N., H. Patel., B. Yuan, W. Lyu, H.R. Juliani, Q.L. Wu and J.E. Simon. Successive harvests affect the aromatic and polyphenol profiles of novel catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) cultivars in a genotype- dependent manner. Frontiers in Plant Science 14:1121582. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1121582 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1121582/full
2022. González, J., A. Lockhart, Q.L. Wu, J.E. Simon and A. Toledo. Repellency of novel catnip (Nepeta cataria) cultivar extracts against Ixodes scapularis and Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae). J. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. Sept 15, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102046.
2022. Patel, H., E.N. Gomes, B. Yuan, W. Lyu, Q.L. Wu and J.E. Simon. Investigation of volatile iridoid terpenes in Nepeta cataria L. (catnip) genotypes. Molecules 27(20):7057. doi: 10.3390/molecules27207057
2021. Gomes, E.N.; M. Zorde; H. Patel; W. Lyu; Q.L. Wu and J.E. Simon. Chemodiversity in Nepeta spp.: A literature review on comparative germplasm studies with focus on iridoids and other terpenes. Journal of Medicinally Active Plants 10 (4):82-115. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/jmap/vol10/iss4/4
2021. Shi, X., C. Wang,C., J.E. Simon, W. Reichert and Q.L. Wu.Repellency of novel catnip oils against the bed bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). J. Medical Entomology 58(2):528-534. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjaa218.
2020. Gomes, E.N., W. Reichert, A.A. Vasilatis, K.A. Allen, Q.L Wu and J.E. Simon. Essential oil yield and aromatic profile of lemon catnip and lemon-scented catnip selections at different harvesting times. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(1):21-33. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/jmap/vol9/iss1/4.
2007. C. H Park, P. Tannous, H. R. Juliani, Q-Li Wu, W. J. Sciarappa, R. Van Vranken, P. Nitzsche, D. Dalponte and J. E. Simon. Catnip as a soruce of essential oils. In: Issues in New Crops and New Uses. Ed. by J. Janick and A. Whipkey. ASHP, Virginia. pp, 311-315.
2007. Wang, M., K.W. Cheng, Q.L. Wu and J.E. Simon. Quantification of nepatalactones in catnip (Nepeta cateria L.) by HPLC coupled with ultraviolet and mass spectrometric detection. Phytochemical Analysis: 18 (2): 157-160.