Valeriana oils

Valeriana oils (and valerianic and isovalerianic acids) and nepeta oUs (and nepetalactones) are well-known feline-attractant oils. Their odor attracts male cats. 

Valerian oil is obtained by steam distillation of well-dried ground roots of Valeriana officinalis L. (Valerianaceae). It is a yellow-green to yellow-brown liquid with an extremely strong, characteristic, penetrating odor. The oil becomes dark and viscous on aging or on exposure to air. 

N.A. Valeriana officinalis L. Essential oil, valtrate, valepotriates, bomyl esters, alkaloids, isovaltrate.99-100 Sedative for nervous disorders, antispasmodic. 

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Uses Rx of superficial wounds (bacterial, viral, fungal, insect bites, minor burns, cold sores, acne Action Broad-spectrum antibiotic activity against E. coli, S. aureus, C. albicans Available forms Topical creams, lotions, oint, oil apply topically PRN Notes/SE Ataxia, contact dermatitis, D, drowsiness, GI mucosal irritation Interactions Effects OF drugs that affect histamine release EMS effects of Benadryl Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) Uses Anxiolytic, antispasmodic, dys-menorrheal, restlessness, sedative Action Inhibits uptake stimulates release of GABA, which T GABA concentration extracellularly causes sedation Available forms Ext 400-900 mg PO 30 min < hs, tea 2-3 g (1 tsp of crude herb) qid, PRN, tine 3-5 mL (1/2-1 tsp) (1 5 ratio) PO qid, PRN Efficacy Probably effective sedative (reduces sleep latency) Notes/SE GI upset, HA, insomnia, N/V, palpitations, restlessness, vision changes Interactions T Effects OF barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opiates, EtOH, catnip, hops, kavakava, passion flower, skullcap effects OF MAOIs, phenytoin, warfarin EMS T Effects of benzodiazepines and opiates abruptly D/C may cause withdrawal symptoms... 

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. 

Occurrence.—The members of this series of acids are derived from the methane series of hydrocarbons and occur very commonly in nature. In a few cases they are found free as formic acid in ants and nettles and valeric acid in the root of Valeriana. In most cases the acids are combined with alcohols as esters and as such are found in ethereal oils, fats and waxes. This has given them the name fatty acids. 

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is found in temperate re-giotis of North America. Europe, and Asia. The dried rhizome of valerian contains an unpleasant-smelling volatile oil that is attributed to isovaleric acid. Despite the (xinr. valerian is a safe and effective sleep aid. 

Isovaltrate and valtrate (valepotriates) and valeronone, an essential oil component, isolated from V. edulis ssp. procera Meyer (Valeriana mexicana ) caused suppression of rhythmic contractions in guinea pig ileum in vivo at a dose of 20 mg/kg administered intravenously via the jugular vein. The investigators also demonstrated that the same compounds as well as dihydrovaltrate isolated from the same valerian species produced relaxation of carbachol-... 

Hendriks and colleagues tested several components of the volatile oil, obtained by steam distillation of Valeriana officinalis [L.], on mice. The essential oil, its hydrocarbon fraction, its oxygen fraction, valeranone, valerenal,... 

Antidepressant effects of valerian were identified by Oshima and associates using a methanol extract of Valeriana fauriei roots (Oshima et al., 1995). They found a strong antidepressant activity in mice as measured by the forced swimming test. One active component isolated was a-kessyl alcohol, a volatile oil component. At 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally, a-kessyl alcohol exhibited an effect similar to imipramine, a commonly used antidepressant. Kessanol and... 

HazelhoffB, Smith D. Malingre TM, Hendriks H. The essential oil of Valeriana officinalis L. s.l. Pharm WeeKbl Sci Ed 1979a 114 71-7. HazelhoffB, Weert B, Denee R, Malingre TM. Isolation and analytical aspects of valeriana compounds. Pharm Wkbl 1979 114 140-8. 

Hendriks H, Bos R, Allersma DP, Malingre TM, Koster AS. Pharmacological screening of valerenal and some other components of essential oil of Valeriana officinalis. Planta Med 1981 42 62-8. 

Valerian. Dried rhizome and roots of Valeriana officinalis L Vaterianaceae. Habit. Europe, Northern Asia naturalized in eastern U.S. Consiit. Volatile oil ( - ]%) val-erine (valerianin) and chatinine (alkaloids) valeric, formic and malic acids tannin, resin. 

Valeriana Valerenic acid and derivatives (%) Valepotriates (%) Essential oil (%,v/w)... 

C,5H24,Mr204.36,oil,bp. 120-I30 C(133 Pa), [aJo +35.8° (CHClj). Sesquiterpene from Aspergillus migatus and Valeriana wallichii, occurs in nature only in the trans form. Biosynthesis from famesyl pyrophosphate /S-B. is the biosynthetic precursor of the antibiotics ovalicin and fumagillin. For synthesis, see Lit. absolute configuration, seeUt. ... 

C,oH,t, Mr 136.24, oil. Isomeric bicyclic raonoter-penes ( SARH-)-a-E, bp. 155-158°C, [a]D-32 (neat) fi-E, bp. 153 °C, [a]D +84.9° (neat). a-F. occurs in the essential oil of leaves of the western red cedar (Thuja plicata, Cupressaceae) and the medicinal valerian (Valeriana officinalis, Valerianaceae) while P-F. occurs in the fruits of common caraway (Carum carvi, Apiaceae). ... 

Camphene, with its slight camphoric odor, is used in perfumery and is derived from the isocamphane skeleton its enantiomers readily undergo racemization and occur as such or as the racemate in bergamot oil, as well as in the oils of citronella and turpentine. (+)-a-Fenchene is found in the ethereal oils of the giant tree of life Thuja plicata (Cupressaceae) and valerian Valeriana officinalis (Valerianaceae), (+)-P-fenchene in the fruits of caraway Carum carvi (Umbellifereae). 

Bos R, Woerdenbag HJ, van Putten FM, Hendriks H, Scheffer JJ (1998) Seasoned variation of the essentied oil, valetenic acid and derivatives, and velopotriates in Valeriana officinalis roots and rhizomes, emd the selection of plants suitable for phytomedicines. Planta Med 64(2) 143-147... 

Bos, R. Woerdenbag, H. J. Hendriks, H. Scheffer J.J.C. (1997). Composition of the essential oils from imderground parts of Valeriana officinalis L. s.l. and several closely related taxa. Flavour Fragrance Journal, Vol.l2, No.5, (September/October... 

Monobasic adds contain a single carboxyl group (COOH). They include the fatty acids as well as isovaleric add, a sedative principle found in Valeriana officinalis and Huntulus lupulus. One of the most important in this group is acetic add, the main constituent in vinegar. Acetic acid is the precnrsor of lipids as well as some essential oils and alkaloids. 

The bitter iridoid monoterpenes usually occur as glycosides (see Chapter 4). Non-glycosidic iridoids include the sedative valepotriates found in valerian—Valeriana spp. (Valerianaceae). They are closely related to nepetalactone, the volatile component of essential oil of catnip, Nepeta cataria (Lamiaceae), responsible for attracting cats to the plant. 

Novak, J., S. Novak, C. Bitsch, and C. Franz, 2000. Essential oil composition of different populations of Valeriana celtica ssp. from Austria and Italy., 15 40-42. 

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