Schizonepeta

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

Schizonepeta or Japanese Catnip. 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. The dry herb is then infused, decocted, or extracted and is used primarily as a carminative, diaphoretic, and antipyretic.^{[citation needed]} The carbonized form of Schizonepeta is used primarily as a hemostatic.^{[citation needed]} Schizonepeta also may interrupt histamine release from mast cells to inhibit allergic reactions.

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.