Hydroxyvalerenic acid

The commercial valerian products consist of, or are derived from, the rhizome, roots, and stolons of Valeriana officinalis L. The crude herb is dried and may be used as is or to prepare an extract that can be used to make an oral solution, tablet, capsule, or tea. Active constituents of valerian include acetoxyvalerenic acid, 1-acevaltrate, baldrinal, didrovaltrate, hydroxyvalerenic acid, kessane derivatives, valeranone, valerenal, valerenic acid, and valtrate (Figure 65.1). 

GABA. Dihydrovaltrate, hydroxyvalerenic acid, a hydroalcoholic extract containing 0.8% valerenic acid a lipid extract an aqueous extract of the hydroalcoholic extract, and another aqueous extract of V. officinalis (L.) were assessed for in vitro binding to rat GABA, benzodiazepine, and barbiturate receptors (18). The results indicated that an interaction of some component of the hydroalcoholic extract, the aqueous extract derived from the hydroalcoholic extract, and the other aqueous extract had affinity for the GABAa receptor. Because hydroxyvalerenic acid (a volatile oil sesquiterpene) and dihydrovaltrate (a valepotriate) did not show any notable activity, the investigators could not identify the specific constituents responsible for this activity. The lipophilic extract derived from the hydroalcoholic extract, as well as dihydrovaltrate, showed affinity for barbiturate receptors, and some affinity for peripheral benzodiazepine receptors. 

Shohet et al. analyzed 31 commercial valerian preparations available in Australia, including tea, tablets, capsules and liquids, by HPLC for valepotriates, valerenic acid and valerenic acid derivatives. The concentrations of valerenic acid and its derivatives ranged from 0.01 to 6.32 pg g of the product powdered capsules on average contained the highest concentrations of valerenic acid and liquid preparations had the lowest concentrations. Torrado studied the in vitro release of valerenic and hydroxyvalerenic acids from valerian tablets. The valerenica acid and hydroxyvalerenic acid concentrations were measured by HPLC using a Cig Kromasil column (200 x 4.6 mm i.d., particle size 5 pm) and a mobile phase of methanol-aqueous 0.5% (v/v) orthophosphoric acid (75 25 v/v). The flow-rate was 1 mL mill. The uncoated tablets had the fastest release profile whereas the coated tablets showed very different release patterns, depending on the type of formulation. ... 

Torrado JJ. In vitro release of valerenic and hydroxyvalerenic acids from valerian tablets. Pharmazie 2003 58 636-638. 

V. officinalis contains valerenic acid (49) and its derivatives hydroxyvalerenic acid (50) and acetoxyvalerenic acid (51) as well as valtrate (24), isovaltrate (43) acevaltrate (44), and deacetylisovaltrate (52). Small amounts of didrovaltrate (45) valerisodatum (53), valechlorine (54), kanokoside A (55), kanokoside C (56), kanokoside D (57) and isovaleroxyhydroxydidrovaltrate (IVHD) (46) may also be present [34, 52-59]. 

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