Japanese Catnip Information

1. Studied Conditions

Japanese Catnip, also known as Silver Vine (Actinidia polygama), has been studied for a variety of conditions, particularly its effects on cats as a stimulant similar to catnip. It also has a history of use in traditional medicine for its potential health benefits for humans, such as for managing stress and improving relaxation.

2. Efficacy in Treating Conditions

In cats, Japanese Catnip is known to be effective in inducing a state of euphoria and playfulness. However, the efficacy in treating human conditions is not well-documented in scientific literature, and more research is needed to substantiate any health claims for humans.

3. Health Benefits

Japanese Catnip is believed to have several health benefits, including:

• Reducing stress and anxiety in cats.
• Potential anti-inflammatory properties.
• Possible antioxidant effects.

4. Downsides

While generally considered safe, there are some potential downsides to Japanese Catnip, including:

• Overstimulation in cats, leading to excessive excitement or aggression.
• Lack of substantial research on its effects on humans, which means safety and efficacy are not well-established.

5. Genetic Variations

There is no widely available research indicating that Japanese Catnip is particularly beneficial or harmful for any specific genetic variations in humans. In cats, however, genetic variations may influence the sensitivity to the active compounds in Japanese Catnip, with some cats being more responsive than others.

Japanese Catnip (Schizonepeta tenuifolia) Research Summary

Traditional Uses and Modern Research: Schizonepeta tenuifolia, also known as Jingjie in Chinese medicine, is traditionally used for treating colds and fevers. Its exact mechanisms and potential drug interactions are not well understood, necessitating further research to confirm efficacy and safety.

Anti-inflammatory Properties: Extracts from Schizonepeta tenuifolia have been shown to reduce inflammatory responses by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) in human mast cells. The plant's influence on cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, MAPK, and Toll-like receptor pathways suggests potential for treating inflammatory diseases.

Antioxidant Effects: Aqueous extracts of the plant demonstrate antioxidant capabilities, neutralizing free radicals and reducing oxidation. Identified compounds such as hesperidin, luteolin, and diosmetin contribute to its ability to decrease inflammation in mice models.

Herb-Drug Interactions: Schizonepetin from Schizonepeta tenuifolia can affect the pharmacokinetics of certain drugs by altering the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, which could lead to clinically significant herb-drug interactions.

Immunomodulatory Effects: The plant exhibits immunomodulatory effects, particularly in cytokine production by T cells, which may be beneficial for treating immune-related conditions and the common cold.

Harvesting and Analysis: Research has developed methods to analyze the volatile oils and monoterpenes in the plant. The timing of harvest affects the quality, suggesting the importance of optimal harvest time for medicinal use.

Toxicity and Metabolism: Concerns about organ toxicity from herbal medicines include the metabolism of components like menthofuran into hepatotoxic substances. The metabolic activation of herbal compounds can result in toxic effects, highlighting the need for safety assessments.

Therapeutic Potential: Schizonepeta tenuifolia shows promise in treating skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis and may inhibit immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions, although it could also enhance TNF-alpha production by mast cells.

Hemostatic Properties: A fat-soluble extract from carbonized Schizonepeta tenuifolia exhibits hemostatic effects, reducing bleeding and clotting times in animal models.

References:

1. Schizonepeta tenuifolia: chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications
2. Microarray analysis of the gene expression profile of HMC-1 mast cells following Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briquet treatment
3. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extracts of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq
4. Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) is required for lipopolysaccharide stimulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) translation: glucocorticoids inhibit TNF-alpha translation by blocking JNK/SAPK
5. Quantitative comparative analysis of the bio-active and toxic constituents of leaves and spikes of Schizonepeta tenuifolia at different harvesting times
6. Analysis of menthol in three traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and their compound formulation by GC-MS
7. Schizonodiol, Schizonol, and Schizonepetosides D and E, Monoterpenoids of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Spikes1
8. Beneficial effects of beta-sitosterol on glucose and lipid metabolism in L6 myotube cells are mediated by AMP-activated protein kinase
9. Effects of schizonepetin on activity and mRNA expression of cytochrome p450 enzymes in rats
10. Suppression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha by Schizonepeta tenuifolia water extract via inhibition of IkappaBalpha degradation and Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase activation
11. Anti-inflammatory activity of Schizonepeta tenuifolia through the inhibition of MAPK phosphorylation in mouse peritoneal macrophages
12. Regulation of interferon-gamma, interleukin-4 and interleukin-2 by Schizonepeta tenuifolia through differential effects on nuclear factor-kappaB, NFATc2 and STAT4/6
13. Immunomodulatory effect of Schizonepeta tenuifolia water extract on mouse Th1/Th2 cytokine production in-vivo and in-vitro
14. Early transcription and silencing of cytokine genes underlie polarization of T helper cell subsets
15. Schizonepeta tenuifolia inhibits the development of atopic dermatitis in mice
16. Effect of Schizonepeta tenuifolia extract on mast cell-mediated immediate-type hypersensitivity in rats
17. Relevance of tumour necrosis factor-alpha for the inflammatory and nociceptive responses evoked by carrageenan in the mouse paw
18. Metabolic activation of herbal and dietary constituents and its clinical and toxicological implications: an update
19. Metabolism and toxicity of menthofuran in rat liver slices and in rats
20. Effect of Carnitine and herbal mixture extract on obesity induced by high fat diet in rats
21. [Research on hemostatic constituents in carbonized Schizonepeta tenuifolia Brig]

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