Valerian plants

Valerian Valeriana officinalis Root of the valerian plant Sedative-hypnotic and antianxiety effects... 

Valerian is derived from the root of the valerian plant that grows throughout many parts of the world. It is generally used to treat mild cases of anxiety and to... 

Valerenic acid 279 is a constituent of the essential oil of the Valerian plant (Valeriana officinalis) that can be isolated from the roots of this planL Valerenic acid acts as a subtype-selective "y-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAa) receptor (GABAaR) agonist. Since GABAaR is an... 

Evening primrose oil, passion flowers, sage, valerian root, and wild yam No demonstrated efficacy Not recommended Caution with all plant products in women with hay fever and plant allergies... 

Valerian is native to Europe and Asia, but now grows in most parts of the world. Valeriana officinalis is the most commonly known and studied, but approximately 200 species are known (figure 6.1) (Kowalchick and Hylton 1987). Unless otherwise specified, the name valerian will be used here to refer to V. officinalis. Valerian grows 50 to 100 cm in height, with an erect stem with pinnate leaves and numerous small pink-white flowers at the top. The parts of the plant used medicinally are the roots and rhizome (figure 6.2). 

Houghton PJ. (1988). The biological activity of Valerian and related plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 22(2) 121-42. 

Oeourrence,—Ja many plants, as in the roots of valerian and angelica. 

Valerian Valeriana officinalis) The roots of this plant are dried to produce a potent extract that induces sleepiness and helps treat insomnia. Like lavender, it depresses the activity of the central nervous system in a fashion similar to stronger prescription tranquilizers such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates, but without the dulling or hangover effects the next day or impairing the ability to drive a car. 

Note Valerian consists of the dried rhizome and roots of Valeriana officinalis Linne (Fam. Valerianaceae). It has been employed as an antianxiety agent and sleep aid for more than 1000 years. The drug contains from 0.3 to 0.7% of an unpleasant-smelling volatile oil containing bornyl acetate and the sesquiterpenoids, valerenic acid, and acetoxyvalerenolic acid. Also present is a mixture of lipophilic iridoid principles known as valepotriates. These bicyclic monoterpenoids are quite unstable and occur only in the fresh plant or in material dried at temperatures under 40°C. Although the specific active principals of valerian have not been determined, it is possible that a combination of the sesquiterpenoids and the valepotriates may be involved. The drug may be administered as a tea prepared from 2 to 3 g of the dried herb or equivalent amounts of a tincture or extract may be employed. 

Valerian is the name of two different plants one of the most popular medicinal herbs in the United States, whereas in Honduras it is a grass that grows to be three to four feet tall. 

The authors suggested that of these medicinal plants valerian was the most hkely to have caused the liver damage. However, it could just as easily have been due to one of the other constituents or some other cause entirely. 

Valerian originated in Europe and Asia, where it has been used for more than 1,000 years for a variety of purposes but primarily to treat insomnia and anxiety. Valerian preparations, derix ed from the root of the plant, contain active chemicals that collectively appear to enhance inhibitory neurotransmission through the GABA system. Valerian is not well studied, but several reports support the claim that it reduces sleep latency and improves sleep quality, albeit with many of the same side effects associated with benzodiazepines (Julien, 2005 Spinella, 2001). 

Further, a copovidone matrix can stabilize certain plant extracts such as vale-potriate (valerian extract) [478]. 

Khadhair, A.H., Hiruki, C. and Deyholos, M. (2008). Molecular Characterization of Aster Yellows Phytoplasma Associated with Valerian and Sowthistle Plants by PCR-RFLP... 

CAS 503-74-2. (CH3)2CHCH2COOH. Occurs in valerian, hop oil, tobacco, and other plants. 

Some medicinal plants and spices have no smell when they are fresh, e.g. mustard seed, valerian root and vanilla fruit. On storage or fermentation, when a hydrolysis of the glycoside (the bound form of the essential oil) takes place, the characteristic smell appears. Similar conditions are also present in anise and fennel, the essential oils of which are partly bound as glycosides. 

Saint-John s-wort (dried above-ground plant parts) mild depression Valerian (fresh underground plant parts) sleep disorders... 

Sevan and Marshall (25) and Castiom et al. (26) have reviewed the applications of SFE in the extraction of natural products. Applications in the pharmaceutical industry include extraction from plant materials, extraction from fermentation broths, and crystallization from supercritical fluid solutions. Good reviews are available in the literature (27,28). Stahl et al., among others, describe the extraction of chamomile and chrysanthemum flowers as well as calamus, turmeric, and valerian roots for pharmaceutically active components (16). 

Numerous iridoids are involved in plant-animal interactions e.g. the defensive function of this type of compounds in ants. From the pharmacological standpoint, the applications of this class of compounds are rather limited. Some iridoids have anti-inflammatory activity, which is weak by the oral route and stronger by topical application e.g. 1 mg of aucubin, verbenalin, or loganin have an activity almost similar to that of 0.5 mg of indomethacin on the TPA-induced mouse ear edema. Some are ingredients in various forms of allopathic medications (valerian), others are typically, phytotherapeutic products (devil s claw, olive tree). Others receive attention for their non-pharmaceutical applications (yellow gentian). The hepatoprotective effects of picrosides I and II from kutkin, the crude active fraction in Picrorhiza kurroa is well known and documented. 

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