Action Used as a substitute for valerian.
Valeriana off icinalis Linn.
Family Valerianaceae.
Habitat Native to Eurasia. (V officinalis auct. non Linn. is found in Kashmir at Sonamarg at 2,400— 2,700 m)
English Valerian, Garden Heliotrope, Common Valerian.
Ayurvedic Tagara, Nata. Baalaka (syn. Udichya, Jala, Barhishtha) is also equated with Valeriana sp.
Folk Sugandhabaalaa, taggar.
Valeriana pyrolaefolia Decne. 693
Action Tranqufflizer, hypnotic, a natural relaxant to higher
nerve centres. Used for nervous tension, sleeplessness, restlessness, palpitation, tension, headache, migraine, menstrual pain, intestinal cramps, bronchial spasm.
Key application Internally for
restlessness and sleeping disorders based on nervous conditions
(German Commission E). (See
Expanded Commission E, ESCOP
and WHO monographs.)
Constituents of the root include valtrates, didrovaltrates and isovalerates. Other constituents include 0.4—1.4% monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, caffeic, gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) and chlorogenic acids, beta-sitosterol, methyl, 2-pyrrolketone, choline, tannins, gums alkaloids and resin. (Expanded Commission E Monographs.)
The volatile oil (0.5—2%) contains bornyl acetate and bornyl isovalerate as the principal components. Other constituents include beta-caryophyllene, valeranone, valerenal, valerenic acid and other sesquiterpenoids and monoterpenes.
The co-occurrence of three cyclopentane- sesquiterpenoids (valerenic acid, acetoxyvalerenic acid and valerenal) is confined to Valeriana officinalis L. and permits its distinction from V edulis and V Wallichii. (WHO.)
The important active compounds of valerian are the valepotriates (iridoid molecules) and valeric acid. Originally it was thought that valepotriates were responsible for the herbs sedative effect, but, later on, an aqueous extract of the root has also been shown to
have a sedative effect. Since valepotriates are not soluble in water, it was concluded that valerenic acid
