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Background and Aim: Chronic neuropathic pain is one of the common and debilitating problems of human societies and is a challenge in health care Valerian officinalis has been used in the treatment of pain and anxiety due to its antioxidant effects and multiple mechanisms. Also, the medicinal form of emulsion is studied to increase the bioavailability and absorption of herbal products. The present study was conducted to determine the analgesic and anti-anxiety effects of the oral emulsion of the extract and compare it with the effects of the extract in adult male rats. Methods: First, the oral emulsion of the extract was formulated with the help of similar studies and Design Expert software, and the best formulation was selected. Then, neuropathic pain was induced in the animals with the help of a sciatic nerve chronic obstructive lesion (CCI) neuropathy surgical model. The extract and emulsion were given orally (gastric gavage) to the animals for 30 days, after which behavioral tests were performed, to investigate thermal allodynia, and elevated plus maze (EPM), to investigate induced anxiety behaviors, one day before Induction of neuropathy and on days 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 21, 30 after neuropathy were investigated, and at the end, the effects of oral emulsion gavage of extract and extract on lipid peroxidation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissue were investigated and compared. Results: Separate administration of valerian extract and emulsion reduced cold allodynia in all days after CCI surgery compared to the neuropathy group (P<0.05). In addition, CCI surgery caused anxiety in rats. Administration of valerian emulsion and its extract were able to significantly reduce anxiety in the behavioral test of the plusshaped elevated maze. The difference is that this reduction process started earlier with the administration of the extract emulsion (P<0.001). Also, the administration of the extract and emulsion significantly reduced the amount of malondialdehyde in the brain tissue in neuropathic rats compared to the neuropathy group (P<0.001), with the difference that the emulsion of the extract caused a greater decrease in the amount of malondialdehyde compared to the extract. Conclusion: Valerian extract and emulsion have analgesic and anti-anxiety effects. In addition, the administration of valerian emulsion in neuropathic rats has significantly more anti-anxiety and analgesic effects compared to the administration of valerian extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to induction of hairy roots, the leaf and petiole explants from seedlings grown under in vitro condition were inoculated with A4 strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenesis. Transgenic hairy roots were confirmed by PCR. Transgenic hairy roots were treated with different concentrations of iron and nickel nano-oxides and methyl jasmonate alone and in combination with L-leucine. Then hairy roots were sampled at 24 and 72 hours after treatment and the biochemical properties and expression of VoTPS1 and VoTPS6 genes were evaluated. The gene expression level was measured using real-time PCR technique and specific primers for each gene. The results showed that the combined application of 100 μM methyl jasmonat and 1 mM L-leucine was increased the activity of catalase enzymes and proline content in Valerian hairy root compared to the control. Among the different concentrations of nickel nano-oxide, the treatment containing 30 mg/l nickel nano-oxide with 1 mM L-leucine increased the activity of peroxidase enzyme and containing 60 mg/l nickel nano-oxide increased the total protein content in hairy roots. In addition, Among the different concentrations of iron nano-oxide, 30 mg/l of this nano-oxide increased the activity of peroxidase enzyme and the amount of flavonoid content, and combination of 90 mg/l of this nano-oxide with 1 mM of L-leucine amino acid was led to the an increase in proline content. The highest expression for VoTPS1 gene was observed in treatment containing 60 mg/l iron Nano-oxide at 24 hours after elicitation. The highest expression for VoTPS6 gene was observed in treatment containing methyl-jasmonate (100µM) and L-leucine (1mM) at 72 hours after elicitation.

Background and aims: Valeriana officinalis is one of the most practical herbal medicines with anxiolytic and sedative properties. This study was conducted to compare herbal medicine V. officinalis and diazepam on reduction of preoperative anxiety. Methods: In this double-blinded clinical trial study, 60 female patients candidated for elective surgery were enrolled into the study. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups including: V. officinalis (5 dl concentrated extract [Zardband Pharmaceutical Co.]), Diazepam (5 mg tablet), and Placebo. The medicines were orally administered to the patients every 2 hours before anesthesia. The data were gathered by Spielberger Anxiety Inventory (manifest anxiety) and form of individual information and vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and respiration at 2 steps, before medicine administration and two hours after medicine administration. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, pair t- test, Chi- square, and ANOVA in SPSS software. Results: Mean score of manifest anxiety in the patients was 28.26±7.94 prior to treatment with V. officinalis and 16.56±7.25 after treatment, in diazepam group prior to treatment 25.56±5.44 and after treatment 22.40±5.54, and in placebo group prior to treatment 24.70±7.09 and after treatment 23.60±7.09, with a significant reduction in score of manifest anxiety in the patients in all three groups (P=0.001). The highest reduction of anxiety score was associated with V. officinalis followed by diazepam and placebo (P=0.001). Conclusion: Considering the findings of this study could be argued that V. officinalis has effect on preoperative anxiety and could be used in reducing preoperative anxiety in operating rooms.

Introduction: The Valeriana officinalis has therapeutic properties in neurological disorders, insomnia and hysteria. Thus, we evaluated the protective activity of Of ethanol extract of this plant on the proliferation and diameter of astrocytes in the hippocampus. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, forty Sprague Dawley rat (200–230 g) were randomly divided equally into 4 groups, in which the control group received distilled water. The treatments groups I, II and III received Valeriana officinalis extracts 300, 400 and 600 mg/kg respectively, daily for three weeks. Then, the rats were killed and brain were removed and fixed. The numbers and large diameter of the astrocytes cells were measured in the hippocampus of different groups. Results: The mean numbers of astrocytes of the CA1 and CA2 in the group that received 600 mg/kg of Valeriana officinalis extracts were 16.79±6.48 and 9.11±3.91 respectively, which significantly increased compare to the control group. The mean of large diameter of astrocytes in the CA1 region of the animals with 300, 400 and 600 mg/kg of Valeriana officinalis were 10.41±2.87, 7.85±2.36 and 5.5±2.06 respectively, that decreased significantly compare to the control group 13.1±4.01. Conclusion: The Valeriana officinalis extract with antioxidant property has potential to proliferate the astrocytes cells in the hippocampus.

Valeriana officinalis is a medicinal plant used in alternative medicine for its sedative and anxiolytic properties. It acts trough GABA receptors increases GABA in synaptic space and stimulates GABA receptors. Ketamine and diazepam also acts trough GABA mechanism but with a different pathway. The purpose of our study was to investigate the sedative effects on cats of valerian extract that extremely beloved by cats in combination with ketamine, and evaluate the possibility of its usage in cats and change the routine methods of anti-anxiety and restraining method. 24 healthy short haired mature male cats randomly selected, fed with standard ration and water ad libitum , were divided into three groups G1, G2, G3, received ketamine(11mg/kg), ketamine-diazepam(1mg/kg), and ketamine-valerian (1250 µg/kg PO) respectively. Rate of CNS depression were evaluated by; onset time of effects, peak score, and duration of peak score, total time of effects and highest recorded score. Scores obtained by ataxia, time at which falling recumbent and pinch test over anus, tail and Achilles tendon. This experiment was conducted as blind. Statistical analysis made by variance analysis (ANOVA) and Tukey test, at a significance level of 5% (p

Background and Objective: Valeriana Officinalis administrated for treatment of many gastrointestinal disorders traditionally and probably reduced smooth muscle contraction and bowel movement. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Valeriana Officinalis extract on Ileum contraction of Guinea pig ileum in In Vitro model. Materials and Methods: This experimental study done on five male Guinea pigs. The animals were sacrificed and the pieces of ileum with 2-3cm long (at least 6 pieces) dissected and established in normal Tyrod solution plus Carbogen gas in 37ºc. Tissue fixed between of two electrodes that connected to stimulator apparatus. The contraction of ileum carried to physiograph by isotonic transducer and recorded. A solution with 5 concentration of Valeriana Officinalis extract was added to the organ bath during ileum stimulation with stimulator and the muscle contraction recorded in 7 responses. Results: Hydroalcoholic extract of Valeriana Officinalis root in concentrations of 5, 15, 50, 150, 500 mg/ml during 0.1 Hz stimulation decreased Ileum contractions in a dose dependent manner. The percent of reduce contraction was 34.45%, 36.07%, 47.53%, 56.42%, and 76.22% respectively. Also Ec50% of this effect of Valeriana Officinalis was found to be 50 mg/ml (P

Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea refers to painful cramps during menstruation with no organic origin. Regarding the high prevalence of dysmenorrhea and its adverse effects on the quality of life of sufferers and the evidence on sedative and antispasmodic properties of Valerian officinalis on smooth muscles, this double-blind clinical trial was conducted to determine the effects of the herb on the severity of dysmenonheal symptoms in Zanjan Islamic Azad University students during 2009. Materials & Methods: The subjects included 100 students who were matched for dysmenorrheal severity, age, menarche onset, body mass index (BMI), duration, interval and amount of bleeding as well as occupation and educational achievements of their parents. The subjects were randomly divided into experimental (49 subjects) and control (51 subjects) groups. The experimental group took 255mg capsules of the herb, three times a day for three days at the onset, of menses while the controls similarly took placebo (capsules containing starch). Pain severity was evaluated by a visual analogue scale (0 to 10cm) and systemic manifestations by a multidimensional verbal scale before and during two consecutive menstrual cycles. The severity and duration of symptoms were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results: There were no significant differences in pain severity between the two groups before the intervention. However, pain severity was reduced in both groups after the intervention (p<0.001) with significantly more relieving results in the experimental group (p<0.05). In addition, the total scores for systemic manifestations associated with dysmenorrhea, insignificantly decreased in both groups, except occurrence of syncope (p<0.05). Conclusion: Valeriana officinalis decreased dysmenonheal symptoms, which it might be attributed to its antispasmodic effects. Further studies are warranted for the use of Valerian officinalis in decreasing dysmenorrheal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]