Zhu J J, Zeng X-P, Berkebile D, DU H-J, Tong Y, Qian K
Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, University of Nebraska, East Campus, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583, USA.
Med Vet Entomol. 2009 Sep;23(3):209-16. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2009.00809.x.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is known for its pseudo-narcotic effects on cats. Recently, it has been reported as an effective mosquito repellent against several Aedes and Culex species, both topically and spatially. Our laboratory bioassays showed that catnip essential oil (at a dosage of 20 mg) resulted in average repellency rates of 96% against stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) and 79% against houseflies, Musca domestica (L.), respectively. This finding suggested that the application of repellent could be used as part of filth fly management. Further evaluations of catnip oil toxicity were conducted to provide a broad-spectrum safety profile of catnip oil use as a potential biting and nuisance insect repellent in urban settings. Acute oral, dermal, inhalation, primary dermal and eye irritation toxicity tests were performed. The acute oral LD(50) of catnip oil was found to be 3160 mg/kg body weight (BW) and 2710 mg/kg BW in female and male rats, respectively. The acute dermal LD50 was > 5000 mg/kg BW. The acute inhalation LD50 was observed to be > 10,000 mg/m3. Primary skin irritation tested on New Zealand white rabbits showed that catnip oil is a moderate irritant. Catnip oil was classified as practically non-irritating to the eye. In comparison with other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved mosquito repellents (DEET, picaridin and p-menthane-3,8-diol), catnip oil can be considered as a relatively safe repellent, which may cause minor skin irritation.
猫薄荷（荆芥）以其对猫的拟麻醉作用而闻名。最近，有报道称它是一种有效的驱蚊剂，无论是局部使用还是空间喷洒，对几种伊蚊和库蚊都有效果。我们实验室的生物测定表明，猫薄荷精油（剂量为20毫克）对厩螫蝇（Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)）的平均驱避率为96%，对家蝇（Musca domestica (L.)）的平均驱避率为79%。这一发现表明，使用这种驱避剂可作为处理家蝇的一种手段。为了全面了解猫薄荷油作为城市环境中潜在的防叮咬和防滋扰昆虫驱避剂的安全性，我们对其毒性进行了进一步评估。进行了急性口服、皮肤、吸入、原发性皮肤和眼睛刺激性毒性试验。结果发现，猫薄荷油对雌性和雄性大鼠的急性口服半数致死量（LD50）分别为3160毫克/千克体重和2710毫克/千克体重。急性经皮LD50大于5000毫克/千克体重。急性吸入LD50大于10000毫克/立方米。在新西兰白兔身上进行的原发性皮肤刺激性试验表明，猫薄荷油是一种中度刺激物。猫薄荷油对眼睛的刺激性被归类为实际无刺激性。与美国环境保护局批准的其他驱蚊剂（避蚊胺、派卡瑞丁和对薄荷烷-3,8-二醇）相比，猫薄荷油可被视为一种相对安全的驱避剂，可能会引起轻微的皮肤刺激。
