trans,cis-Nepetalactone is one of the dominant catnip iridoid lactones and the second major nepetalactone isomer in the AromaForge catnip profile. The strongest live evidence supports identity, catnip occurrence, insect-repellent relevance, and biosynthetic mechanism rather than human therapeutic use. Available activity papers are mostly preclinical, agricultural, or insect-focused, so this constituent is best positioned as a catnip marker and repellent-research molecule, not as a medical claim.
Chemical identity and composition
Public registry sources identify trans,cis-nepetalactone as the E,Z nepetalactone stereoisomer and list CAS 17257-15-7. In the local archive, catnip-canada lists trans,cis-nepetalactone at 39.69% of peak area. Science Advances pathway work further distinguishes this isomer from cis,trans-nepetalactone by showing a dedicated NEPS4-linked cyclization route followed by NEPS1 oxidation.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded herbaceous, minty, green, catnip-like descriptors to explore a blend's scent character; perceived strength also depends on the other ingredients.
- Read the route, preparation and experimental context before using a study finding to choose an oil.
Reported benefits and effects
Findings retain their study context. An animal or laboratory result describes that experiment.
A 2024 catnip essential-oil study reported trans,cis-nepetalactone at 39.69% of peak area and found catnip oil active in broth-microdilution and time-kill assays against canine skin pathogens, with membrane-disruption findings in microscopy and leakage assays.
A 2024 catnip essential-oil study reported trans,cis-nepetalactone at 39.69% of peak area and found catnip oil active in broth-microdilution and time-kill assays against canine skin pathogens, with membrane-disruption findings in microscopy and leakage assays.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2020 Science Advances study showed that NEPS4 plus NEPS1 is required for trans,cis-nepetalactone formation in vitro, distinguishing its biosynthesis from the cis,trans and cis,cis nepetalactone pathways.
A 2020 Science Advances study showed that NEPS4 plus NEPS1 is required for trans,cis-nepetalactone formation in vitro, distinguishing its biosynthesis from the cis,trans and cis,cis nepetalactone pathways.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
A 2010 shoot-culture study reported that only trans,cis-nepetalactone was detected in Nepeta rtanjensis shoots, while another Nepeta species produced cis,trans-nepetalactone instead, supporting chemotype-level specificity for this isomer.
A 2010 shoot-culture study reported that only trans,cis-nepetalactone was detected in Nepeta rtanjensis shoots, while another Nepeta species produced cis,trans-nepetalactone instead, supporting chemotype-level specificity for this isomer.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
A 2024 Archives of Biological Sciences paper described Nepeta rtanjensis essential oil with high trans,cis-nepetalactone as strongly inhibitory to germination and seedling growth in several weed species, including complete inhibition of some targets at the highest tested concentrations.
A 2024 Archives of Biological Sciences paper described Nepeta rtanjensis essential oil with high trans,cis-nepetalactone as strongly inhibitory to germination and seedling growth in several weed species, including complete inhibition of some targets at the highest tested concentrations.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
Use concerns and concentration limits
Sensitization concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Phototoxicity concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Oxidation concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Penetration enhancementNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
No numeric constituent-specific use limit is available here. Missing is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
No constituent-specific IFRA dermal limit, phototoxicity warning, or dedicated human tolerability paper for isolated trans,cis-nepetalactone was verified in this pass.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
The reviewed evidence base is dominated by insect, plant, and mixture-level experiments rather than direct human safety testing of purified trans,cis-nepetalactone.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
Constituents it may interact with
No constituent-pair interaction is recorded for this identity. The report does not assume either amplification or incompatibility.
How the effects were investigated
neps4 neps1 biosynthetic pathway
A 2020 Science Advances paper reported that NEPS4 forms the trans,cis-nepetalactol precursor and that NEPS1 oxidizes it to stable trans,cis-nepetalactone, supporting a distinct stereochemical biosynthesis route.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
trpa1 linked insect repellency
Catnip-repellency work indicates that nepetalactones act through insect TRPA1 signaling, but the accessible mechanism paper discusses nepetalactone more broadly rather than isolating trans,cis-only receptor data.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
What this report cannot establish
- A reported constituent percentage does not establish an effective human therapeutic dose or the amount absorbed into the body.
- The presence of a constituent does not guarantee a clinical benefit, rash treatment or sleep improvement from a custom blend.
- An unflagged concern or missing use limit does not establish safety for ingestion, inhalation, skin exposure or a particular person.
- A candidate constituent interaction does not establish that two oils amplify one another at the selected proportions.
- Constituent descriptors alone do not establish a precise top, heart or base lifetime in a finished blend.
Known data gaps (5)
- Most accessible efficacy data attribute activity to catnip oil or mixed nepetalactone systems rather than purified trans,cis-nepetalactone alone.
- Human clinical safety or efficacy data specific to isolated trans,cis-nepetalactone were not located in the reviewed public sources.
- No constituent-specific dermal maximum or primary phototoxicity source was verified for the isolated isomer.
- No constituent-specific numeric dermal reference is available here.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.