Search

Valeriana officinalis L. (Valerianaceae) is one of the most reputed ancient medicinal plants used in modern phytotherapy and traditional medicine. Its root extract is one of the most effective herbal sedatives and tranquilizers, where the plant is also used for the treatment of gastrointestinal spasms. V. officinalis has complex phytochemistry consisting of the esterified iridoid derivatives known as valepotriates (e.g., valtrate, didrovaltrate, isovalerenic acid), sesquiterpenes (e.g., valerenic acid), flavonoids (e.g., linarin, apigenin), lignans (e.g., pinoresinol, hydroxypinoresinol), alkaloids (e.g., actinidine, valerine), triterpenes (e.g., ursolic acid), monoterpenes (e.g., borneol, bornyl acetate). Among them, valerenic acid is a marker compound for standardization of the root extracts of the plant and has been reported in many in vitro/in vivo studies to be responsible for anxiolytic action of the plant. Although modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors has been revealed to be the leading mechanism of the plant-based on the existence of valerenic acid, several studies described the interaction of valerenic acid with glutamergic receptors. In addition to valerenic acid, isovaleric acid, didrovaltrate, borneol, and some lignans have also been proposed to contribute to the anxiolytic effect of the plant. In the current review, the data selectively scrutinized from the in vitro/in vivo studies about identifying anxiolytic molecular mechanisms of V. officinalis is focused.

Underground Valerian roots (Vаlеrіаnае radix) are officinal raw materials. More than 1000 compounds were detected in Valeriana officinalis L. s.l., of which no less than 500 natural substances of organic and inorganic origin were identified, among them – carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, vitamins, enzymes, phenolic compounds, essential oil, iridoids, alkaloids, steroids. The aerial part of Valerian is a source of various flavonoids with pronounced antioxidant properties and specific pharmacotherapeutic activity. The aim of the research is to determine, by means of gas chromatography, component composition of Valerian tinctures, made of the aerial part of V. tuberosa L., V. stolonifera Czern (Kantserivska balka, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine) and V. officinalis L. (Łódź, Bydgoszcz, Poland). Materials and methods. Tincture samples of the aerial part of wild species V. tuberosa L., V. stolonifera Czern (Kantserivska balka, Zaporizhzhia region), and V. officinalis L. (the experimental site of ZSMU; Łódź and Bydgoszcz in Poland) were selected for experimental studies according to the traditional production recipe for making tinctures (1 : 5). Component composition of the tinctures was studied using a 7890B gas chromatograph with a 5977B mass spectrometer detector. Results. By means of chromato-mass spectrometry, component composition of the Valerian tinctures has been identified, namely: in the tincture prepared from the aerial part of V. officinalis (Łódź, Poland) 54 components have been identified, V. tuberosa – 50; V. stolonifera – 46 and V. officinalis (Bydgoszcz, Poland) – 30. The chromatogram analysis of four Valerian tinctures helped to identify 118 components, 5 of which were present in all studied tinctures; 12 components were present in three tinctures; 22 components have been found in two tinctures. It should be noted that 10 components have been found in the tinctures in large quantities, their content ranging from 10.91 % to 30.02 %. Conclusions. Analyzing the obtained data of the GC, it can be seen that Valerian tinctures differ both in quantitative and qualitative composition. From the aerial part of Valeriana officinalis, prepared in Łódź and Bydgoszcz in Poland, 17 components coincide. In the tinctures, prepared from herbs collected in Ukraine, 10 components coincide. The highest content of Butanoic acid, 3-methyl – from 4.01 % to 16.78 %; 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, ethyl ester, (Z,Z,Z)- – from 0.47 % to 7.09 %; Dihydroxyacetone – from 0.37 % to 5.69 % and Quinic acid – from 0.30 % to 4.66 % in all four tinctures by peak areas and retention time should be marked. In three tinctures Cyclododecane, 1,5,9-tris(acetoxy)- has been identified in amount of 30.56 % to 14.56 %. The obtained results confirm the expediency of using the aerial part of Valeriana officinalis as raw material with a large commodity yield and various contents of biologically active substances for further pharmacognostic researches for the purpose of creation of new medicines and phytopreparations

Herbal medication used in the treatment of sleep disorders and anxiety often contain extracts of Valeriana officinalis or Passiflora incarnata. Valerenic acid in V. officinalis and apigenin, orientin, and vitexin in P. incarnata are thought to contribute to their therapeutic effect. It was the aim of this study to test whether these constituents of herbal extracts are interacting with the uptake of estrone 3-sulfate, pregnenolone sulfate, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate mediated by the uptake transporters organic anion transporting polypeptide 2B1 (OATP2B1) or organic anion transporting polypeptide 1A2 (OATP1A2). Madin-Darby canine kidney cells overexpressing OATP2B1 or OATP1A2 were used to determine the influence of the constituents on the cellular accumulation of the sulfated steroids. Subsequently, competitive counterflow experiments were applied to test whether identified inhibitors are also substrates of the transporters. Valerenic acid only interacted with OATP2B1, whereas apigenin, orientin, and vitexin interacted with OATP2B1 and OATP1A2. Competitive counterflow revealed that orientin is a substrate of both transporters, while apigenin was transported by OATP1A2 and vitexin by OATP2B1. In a next step, commercially available P. incarnata preparations were assessed for their influence on the transporters, revealing inhibition of transporter-mediated estrone 3-sulfate uptake. HPLC-UV-MS analysis confirmed the presence of orientin and vitexin in these preparations, thereby suggesting that these constituents are involved in the interaction. Our data indicate that constituents of P. incarnata may alter the function of OATP2B1 and OATP1A2, which could affect the uptake of other compounds relying on uptake mediated by the transporters.

This study investigated the effects of exogenous methionine (Met) and different phosphate (PO4) concentrations on Cd uptake and translocation in Valeriana officinalis L. Seedlings were grown in nutrient solutions with three different concentrations of phosphate (900, 1200, and 1500 μM) for two weeks, then exposed for 4 days to 10 μM Cd, either in presence or absence of 400 μM methionine. The Met treatment decreased root Cd accumulation by up to 40%, while it enhanced Cd uptake into the shoots by 50%. In absence of Met, shoot Cd uptake was not affected by the level of phosphate application, although root Cd contents increased. The latter effect was entirely due to increased apoplastic Cd binding. In presence of Met, the Cd accumulation of both plant parts showed trends to increase with increasing phosphate level. In contrast to the treatments without Met, however, the phosphate effect on root Cd was due to increased symplastic root Cd allocation. The results suggest that the effects of Met on Cd uptake were due to the formation of mobile Cd-Met complexes, reducing phosphate-promoted Cd-retention in the apoplast and enhancing Cd transfer into the root symplast. Irrespective of the treatment, shoot Cd accumulation showed a close linear relationship to shoot mass, suggesting that convective transport with the transpirational water stream was the rate-governing uptake process. The results indicate that methionine supplementation could reduce Cd accumulation in valerian roots, which are the parts of this plant harvested for medicinal purposes, in Cd-contaminated soil, while phosphate would enhance it.

The lignan 4′-O-β- d-glucosyl-9-O-(6″-deoxysaccharosyl)olivil had previously been discovered in a methanolic extract of valerian root (Valeriana officinalis agg.) and characterized as a potent partial agonist at the A1 adenosine receptors. Today, countless scientific sources, webpages, and press articles mention this compound and discuss it as an active constituent for the sedative effect of this herbal drug. As no second report confirmed the occurrence of this lignan in valerian root during the 20 years since its first description in 1998, we intended to re-prove its presence by means of LCMS using other genuine or added lignans as a quantitative benchmark. Whilst those lignans were clearly detectable in methanolic valerian extracts of all six investigated batches of valerian root, no positive proof of 4′-O-β- d-glucosyl-9-O-(6″-deoxysaccharosyl)olivil was achieved. Our result suggests that this compound does not occur regularly in valerian root in the amounts expected from the single report on the occurrence of this compound.

Valeriana offcinalis L consiste em uma planta herbacea, pertencente a familia Valerianaceae conhecida popularmente como valeriana selvagem. Possui uso medicinal para tratamento de dores de cabeca, nauseas, disturbios hepaticos, antidoto e insonia. Uma das formas de propagacao da especie se da atraves da micropropagacao que constitui um modo de manter sempre disponiveis explantes sadios e livres de contaminacao para aplicacao de tecnicas de regeneracao por cultura de tecidos e transformacao genetica, alem de ser altamente conveniente para manutencao de colecoes de plantas de genotipos diferentes, livres de patogenos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes concentracoes dos compostos minerais, nitrato de amonio e nitrato de potassio na micropropagacao da Valeriana officinalis visando a reducao de custos do meio de cultura MS. O experimento e composto por diferentes concentracoes e fontes de nitrato na composicao do meio de cultura MS (MS + ½ NH4NO3, MS + ½ KNO3, MS + ¼ NH4NO3, MS + ¼ KNO3e MS completo) totalizando cinco tratamentos, com quatro repeticoes composta por dois frascos contendo tres explantes cada. Apos 64 dias da inoculacao foi feita a pesagem das plântulas por inteira com o auxilio de balanca de precisao, para obter os valores de peso medio de massa fresca e apos secagem em estufa por tres dias na temperatura de 360 C e aos 67 dias obteve valores medio de massa seca. Os dados foram submetidos a analise de variância e as medias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de significância. Houve diferenca estatistica nos tratamentos apenas para a variavel peso de massa seca, onde o tratamento mais significativo MS + ¼ KNO3 obteve 0,17 g e o de menor peso significativo foi o meio MS + ½ NH4NO3 com 0,08 g. Houve efeito das concentracoes de nitrato de potassio na micropropagacao da V. officinalis L. podendo o meio de cultura MS com ¼ KNO3 ser indicado para o cultivo.

The essential oil was extracted from the roots of Valeriana officinalis L. by hydrodistillation. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of its chemical constituents was conducted on GC-MS and GC-FID in this study. Seventeen compounds were detected and the major constituents included bornyl acetate (48.2%) and camphene (13.8%). The toxic and repellent effects of the essential oil and its two major constituents were evaluated on Liposcelis bostrychophila and Tribolium castaneum. The results of bioassays indicated that the essential oil showed the promising fumigant and contact toxicity against L. bostrychophila (LC50 = 2.8 mg/L air and LD50 = 50.9 μg/cm2, respectively) and the notable contact effect on T. castaneum (LD50 = 10.0 μg/adult). Meanwhile, the essential oil showed comparable repellent effect on T. castaneum at all testing concentrations. Bornyl acetate and camphene also exhibited strong fumigant and contact toxicity against both species of pests (LC50 = 1.1, 10.1 mg/L air and LD50 = 32.9, 701.3 μg/cm2 for L. bostrychophila; > 126.3, 4.1 mg/L air, and 66.0, 21.6 μg/adult for T. castaneum). Bornyl acetate and camphene showed moderate repellent effect on T. castaneum and conversely showed attractant effect on L. bostrychophila. This work highlights the insecticidal potential of V. officinalis, which has been noted as a traditional medicinal plant.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of plant extracts (valerian Valeriana officinalis L., sage Salvia officinalis L., chamomile Matricaria chamomilla L., cistus Cistus L., linden blossom Tilia L., ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata L., marshmallow Althaea L.) on the activity and growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) during the fermentation and passage of milk through a digestive system model. The tested extracts were also characterized in terms of their content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. It was observed that the addition of the tested herbal extracts did not inhibit the growth of LAB in fermented milk drinks, such as yogurts. However, they can gradually inhibit fermentation when added at concentrations above 2% by weight, and hence should be used in limited amounts. The microflora of yogurts containing the tested herbal extracts did not die during digestion in model digestive juices, and no stimulating effect of the added plant extracts was noted either. Nevertheless, due to the antioxidant properties, a slight addition of the herbal extracts containing polyphenols to different kinds of food products can increase the nutritional quality, thus making them functional foods.

Valeriana officinalis L. (Caprifoliaceae) has been traditionally used to treat mild nervous tension and sleep problems. The basis of these activities are mainly attributed to valerenic acid through the modulation of the GABA receptor. Moreover, V. officinalis is claimed to have other biological activities such as cardiovascular benefits, anticancer, antimicrobial and spasmolytic. The current review aims to update the biological and pharmacological studies (in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials) of V. officinalis and its major secondary metabolites in order to guide future research. Databases PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus were used for literature search including original papers written in English and published between 2014 and 2020. There have been identified 33 articles which met inclusion criteria. Most of these works were performed with V. officinalis extracts and only a few papers (in vitro and in vivo studies) evaluated the activity of isolated compounds (valerenic acid and volvalerenal acid K). In vitro studies focused on studying antioxidant and neuroprotective activity. In vivo studies and clinical trials mainly investigated activities on the nervous system (anticonvulsant activity, antidepressant, cognitive problems, anxiety and sleep disorders). Just few studies were focused on other different activities, highlight effects on symptoms of premenstrual and postmenopausal syndromes. Valeriana officinalis continues to be one of the medicinal plants most used by today's society for its therapeutic properties and whose biological and pharmacological activities continue to arouse great scientific interest as evidenced in recent publications. This review shows scientific evidence on traditional uses of V. officinalis on nervous system.

Ethnopharmacology relevance In folkloric medicine of many cultures, one of the medical uses of Valeriana officinalis Linn is to treat heart-related disease. Recently, it was shown that the ethanol extracts from V. officinalis could effectively prevent auricular fibrillation, and 8-hydroxypinoresinol-4-O-β-D-glucoside (HPG) from the extracts is one of the two active compounds showing antiarrhythmia activities. Aim of the study The human Kv1.5 channel (hKv1.5) has potential antiarrhythmia activities, and this study arms at investigating the current blocking effects of HPG on hKv1.5 channel. Material and methods HPG was obtained from V. officinalis extracts, and hKv1.5 channels were expressed in HEK 293 cells. HPG was perfused while recording the current through hKv1.5 channels. Patch-clamp recording techniques were used to study the effects of HPG at various concentrations (10 μM, 30 μM, and 50 μM) on hKv1.5 channels. Results The present study demonstrated that HPG inhibited hKv1.5 channel current in a concentration-dependent manner; the higher the concentration, the greater is the inhibition at each depolarization potential. During washout, the channels did not full recover indicating that the un-coupling between HPG and hKv1.5 channels is a slow process. Conclusion HPG may be an effective and safe active ingredient for AF having translational potential.

Astrocytes can protect neurons against oxidative stress and excitability-dependent disorders, such as epilepsy. Valeriana officinalis has been used as anticonvulsant and can exert an antioxidant effect, which may underlie its opposing action against the toxic effects of the pesticide rotenone. We investigated the V. officinalis/rotenone interaction in the cortical spreading depression (CSD), a phenomenon that depends upon brain excitability (in vivo model). In addition, we analyzed the protective action of V. officinalis against the cytotoxic effects of rotenone in cultures of rat C6 glioma cells (in vitro model). For the CSD study, Wistar rats received either V. officinalis (250 mg/kg/day via gavage for 15 days; n = 8) or 10 mg/kg/day rotenone via subcutaneous injections for 7 days (n = 7), or they received both substances (n = 5). Two control groups received either saline (vehicle for V. officinalis; n = 8) or 1% Tween-80 aqueous solution (vehicle for rotenone; n = 9). After treatment, CSD was recorded for 4 h. The rotenone- and V. officinalis-treated groups presented, respectively, with lower (2.96 ± 0.14 mm/min), and higher CSD propagation velocity (3.81 ± 0.10 mm/min) when compared with the controls (Tween-80, 3.37 ± 0.06 mm/min and saline, 3.35 ± 0.08 mm/min; p < 0.05). The rotenone plus V. officinalis-treated group displayed a CSD velocity (3.38 ± 0.07 mm/min) that was similar to controls. In line with these results, in vitro experiments on rat glioma C6 cells revealed a protective effect (MTT assay) of V. officinalis against rotenone-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest the therapeutic potential of V. officinalis for treating neurological diseases involving redox imbalance and astrocyte dysfunction.

Valerianа officinalis rhizomes whis roots, monocomponent and complex herbal drugs based on Valerianа officinalis, and the drug Corvalol containing chemically synthesized α-bromizovalerianic acid ethyl ester (ethyl bromovalerianate) are OTC drugs and are widely used. At the same time, in the database of drug adverse effects «Pharmacovigilance» AIS Roszdravnadzor from 2009 to 2018, 147 spontaneous reports of adverse reactions were registered when taking Valeriana rhizomes whis roots and Corvalol. The aim of the study was the analisis of spontaneous reporting about adverse reactions when taking Valeriana rhizomes and roots and the multi-component drug Corvalol in the database «Pharmacovigilance» AIS Roszdravnadzor and assessment of their compliance with the information in the instructions for medical use. It was reactions from the nervous system (lethargy, drowsiness, weakness, apathy, headache, dizziness, depression of consciousness, stupor, neurotoxicity, toxic encephalopathy), from the gastrointestinal tract (nausea, bitterness in the mouth, burning of the mucous membrane, belching, heartburn, appetite disorders), cardiovascular system (tachycardia) and allergic reactions (skin itching, skin flushing, rash, maculo-papular rash, urticaria, dermatitis, cheilitis, aphthous stomatitis, angioedema) in the reports. The sedative and anxiolytic effects of the leading biologically active component of rhizomes with valerian roots, valerenic acid, are mediated through modulation of the function of type-γ-aminobutyric acid receptors A. Experimentally confirmed that the mechanism of action of valerenic acid is similar to benzodiazepine drugs, which cause of a number of reported adverse neurological reactions. However, the range of complaints from patients cited in the reports is significantly wider than in the instructions for the medical use of these drugs. There is a need for further monitoring of reports and analysis of already received data and the addition of prescribing information of Valeriana rhizomes whis roots and Corvalol for ensuring safety requirements.

Geraniol is an acyclic isoprenoid monoterpene isolated from the essential oils of aromatic plants including Cinnamomum tenuipilum, Valeriana officinalis, and several other plants. The limited source of geraniol from plant isolation cannot fulfill the great demand from the flavor and fragrance industries, which require maximizing geraniol production through biotechnology processes. The diverse activities of geraniol suggested that geraniol could treat various diseases as a promising drug candidate. In order to evaluate the potential of geraniol applied in a clinical trial, this review aims at providing a comprehensive summary of the pharmacological effects of geraniol. The publications retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, and Wiley databases were collected and summarized for the last 6 years. Then, the potential application of geraniol as a drug is discussed based on its pharmacological properties, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antimicrobial activities, and hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Hence, this review aims at providing evidence of the pharmacological activities of geraniol in the context of further development as a drug candidate in clinical application.

The oxidation potentials of medicinal plant tinctures have been studied on glassy carbon electrode, modified layer-by-layer with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and poly(gallic acid) (PGA/MWNT/GCE) in phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.4. PGA-modified electrode has shown significantly higher sensitivity towards antioxidants in tinctures in comparison to bare GCE and MWNT/GCE. A novel approach for the evaluation of antioxidant capacity of medicinal plant tinctures using one-step chronocoulometry at 1.0 V has been developed. A steady state is achieved at 100 s of electrolysis. The antioxidant capacity has been expressed in quercetin equivalents per 1 mL of tincture. Linear dynamic ranges of 0.010–0.25 and 0.25–250 μmol L−1 quercetin with the limits of detection and determination of 2.9 and 9.8 nmol L−1, respectively, have been obtained. Eleven medicinal plant tinctures have been investigated. The antioxidant capacity decreases in the following order: Rhodiola rosea L. > Paeonia anomala L. > Aralia elata var. mandshurica (Rupr. & Maxim.) J. Wen > Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench ≈ Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. > Valeriana officinalis L. ≈ Leonurus cardiaca L. > Mentha piperita L. > Calendula officinalis L. > Crataegus spp. > Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Strong positive correlations of the antioxidant capacity of tinctures with the antioxidant activity and total phenolics (r = 0.9715 and 0.9738, respectively, at rcrit = 0.602, α = 0.05 and n = 11) confirm the accuracy of the developed chronocoulometric method.

In addition to absorbing water and nutrients, the medicinal plant roots are sometimes responsible for the secondary metabolite production and/or accumulation. Root extension is, therefore, economically important in these plants. Here we used a hydroponic system to investigate the effects of exogenous methionine (Met) and phosphate (PO4) concentration on the biomass production and quality of valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) root. The plants were grown in a cocopeat-perlite mixture and irrigated with nutrient solutions differed mainly in phosphate concentration (900, 1200, and 1500 μM) for four months. The valerian plants were exposed five times to 400 μM methionine either as foliar or root applications. Elevated phosphate concentration had a negative impact on yield and quality of valerian root, showing a 32 % reduction in root dry weight at 1500 compared with 900 μM phosphate. The maximum accumulation of essential oil (29 μL plant−1) and valerenic acid (11 mg plant−1) were also recorded at the lowest phosphate concentration (900 μM) coincided with the highest Zn absorption by the plants. Irrespective of the phosphate concentration, using Met, particularly in root application improved the measured plant traits. Met supplementation at the lowest phosphate concentration caused a 1.3-fold and 1.6-fold increase in the yield of the essential oil and valerenic acid, respectively. Overall, these findings indicate that an exogenous supply of Met at a relatively low phosphate concentration can considerably increase the yield and quality of valerian roots under hydroponic conditions.

The volatile constituents from then-hexane extracts of the roots and rhizomes ofValeriana officinalis(VO) andValeriana turkestanica(VT) were investigated by GC-MS analysis. Two VO samples were obtained from cultivation, one from commercially available material, while VT was collected in a mountain of Kazakhstan. The most characteristic components present in all of the analysed samples were sesquiterpenoids. The three investigated samples of VO produced mainly valerenane and kessane sesquiterpenoids. Acetoxyvalerenic acid (33.94%), valerenic acid (15.05%), valerenal (11.93%), valeric acid 2,6-dimethylnon-1-en-3-yn-5-yl ester (5.24%), valerenol (3.31%), elemol (3.19%) and (E)-valerenyl isovalerate (2.53%), were the common components identified in then-hexane extract from the roots of VT. In comparison to VO this species does not produce kessane sesquiterpenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study shows that the roots of VT possess compounds of high biological significance, since they have the appropriate contents of valerenic acid and its derivatives, thus VT can be considered as a substitute for VO.

In this work, the essential oil (EO) and supercritical CO2 fluid extract (SF extract) of four Valerianaceae plants (Valeriana officinalis L., Valeriana officinalis L. var. latifolia Miq., Valeriana jatamansi Jones and Nardostachys chinensis Bat.) were chemically characterized. GC-MS analysis identified 74 compounds, representing 35.2%–82.4% of the total EOs and SF extracts. The EO was dominated by low-molecular-weight components while the SF extract was rich in fatty acids. Bornyl acetate and camphene were the characteristic compounds in EO and SF extracts. The efficacy of six extracts against three stored-product insects was investigated. In contact assays, V. officinalis exhibited strongest toxicity to red flour beetle (LD50 = 10.0 μg/adult), and V. jatamansi EO was the most active one against the cigarette beetle (LD50 = 17.6 μg/adult), while V. officinalis var. latifolia EO showed outstanding efficacy against the booklouse (LD50 = 40.2 μg/cm2). Binary mixtures of two major compounds (camphene and bornyl acetate) were assessed for the contact toxicity to the red flour beetle. Additive effect existed in the natural proportion of V. officinalis, and synergism was observed in that of V. officinalis var. latifolia. This work confirmed the insecticidal efficacy of the species of the Valerianaceae family, and it would offer some information for the development of botanical insecticide.

Medicinal plants are good sources and rich of substances which having nutraceutical and health benefits. Valeriana officinalis L. (Valerianaceae) is a known medicinal plant used in traditional medicine worldwide. The aim of present study was to evaluate the efficiencies of three methods for evaluated for antioxidant from Valeriana officinalis. Besides, the impact of extraction methods on total phenollic and flavonoids contents and antioxidant activities of Valeriana root was investigated. The dried-root was extracted by three different methods including maceration, ultrasonic assisted, and Soxhlet assisted extraction. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using four different methods: DPPH and nitric oxide (NO) free radicals scavenging, reducing power and iron chelating activity. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also identified. The ultrasonic extract showed highest amount of total phenolics and flavonoids contents. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, the ultrasonic assisted extract, (IC50=0.546 g/ml) had a higher activity from other extracts. In reducing power assay, maceration extract showed the highest activity. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, IC50 for ultrasonic extract, soxhlet assisted extraction and maceration extract were 0.546, 0.816 and 0.678 g/ml, respectively. Here, the maceratin extract showed the highest activity, too. The results clearly indicated the extraction methods used in this study significantly affected antioxidant capacities and total phenolic and flavonoids contents. Ultrasonic assisted extraction and Soxhlet methods were found to be more efficient in extraction of antioxidant components of valeriana.

The headspace solid-phase micro extraction (HS-SPME) procedure coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine profiling volatile components from the roots of Valeri...

The medicinal properties of Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root preparations are attributed to the anxiolytic sesquiterpenoid valerenic acid and its biosynthetic precursors valerenal and valerenadiene, as well as the anti-inflammatory sesquiterpenoid β-caryophyllene. In order to study and engineer the biosynthesis of these pharmacologically active metabolites, a binary vector co-transformation system was developed for V. officinalis hairy roots. The relative expression levels and jasmonate-inducibility of a number of genes associated with sesquiterpenoid metabolism were profiled in roots: farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (VoFPS), valerendiene synthase (VoVDS), germacrene C synthase (VoGCS), and a cytochrome P450 (CYP71D442) putatively associated with terpene metabolism based on sequence homology. Recombinant hairy root lines overexpressing VoFPS or VoVDS were generated and compared to control cultures. Overexpression of the VoFPS cDNA increased levels of the corresponding transcript 4- to 8-fold and sesquiterpene hydrocarbon accumulation by 1.5- to 4-fold. Overexpression of the VoVDS cDNA increased the corresponding transcript levels 5- to 9-fold and markedly increased yields of the oxygenated sesquiterpenoids valerenic acid and valerenal. Our findings suggest that the availability of cytoplasmic farnesyl diphosphate and valerenadiene are potential bottlenecks in Valeriana-specific sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis, which is also subject to regulation by methyl jasmonate elicitation.

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor (AchEI) is the most extensive in all anti-dementia drugs. The extracts and isolated compounds from the Valeriana genus have shown anti-dementia bioactivity. Four new sesquiterpenoids (1-4) and a new monoterpenoid (5) were isolated from the root of Valeriana officinalis var. latiofolia. The acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibitory activity of isolates was evaluated by modified Ellman method in vitro. Learning and memory ability of compound 4 on mice was evaluated by the Morris water maze. The contents of acetylcholine (Ach), acetylcholine transferase (ChAT) and AchE in mice brains were determined by colorimetry. The results showed IC50 of compound 4 was 0.161 μM in vitro. Compared with the normal group, the learning and memory ability of mice and the contents of Ach and ChAT decreased in model group mice (P

There is growing interest for medicinal plants in the world drug market. Particularly, Matricaria recutita L., Valeriana officinalis L., Tilia spp., and Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze are some of the most consumed medicinal plants for treatment of minor health problems. Medicinal plants are seen as natural and safe, however, they can cause interactions and produce adverse reactions. Moreover, there is lack of consensus in medicinal plants regulation worldwide. DNA barcoding and UHPLC-MS technique are increasingly used to correctly identify medicinal plants and guarantee their quality and therapeutic safety. We analyzed 33 samples of valerian, linden, tea, and chamomile acquired in pharmacies, supermarkets, and herbal shops by DNA barcoding and UHPLC-MS. DNA barcoding, using matk as a barcode marker, revealed that CH1 sold as Camellia sinensis was Blepharocalyx tweediei, and sample TS2 sold as linden belong to Malvales. On the other hand, UHPLC-MS analysis revealed the presence of bioactive compounds (apigenin-7-glucoside, acetoxy valerenic acid, valerenic acid, epigallocatechin, and tiliroside). However, none of samples met minimum content of these active principles (except for valerenic acid in VF3) according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Real Spanish Pharmacopeia. In conclusion, this study revealed the need to incorporate DNA barcoding and HPLC-MS techniques in quality controls of medicinal plants.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.), which is considered as a medicinal plant, is commonly used in traditional medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi association under moderate and high salinity stress on growth and physio-biochemical traits of V. officinalis. The bio-ameliorative efficiency of two AM species, Rhizophagus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae was also compared. The mycorrhizal inoculation generally increased the salt tolerance of plant and positively affected plant growth, P, K+, Mg2+ concentration and the ratios of total chlorophyll: carotenoids, K+: Na+, Ca2+: Na+, and Mg2+: Na+ in shoots compared with those of the non-mycorrhizal plants under saline condition. Moreover, the presence of AM symbiosis mitigated the salinity-induced increase in shoot Na+ concentration, shoot proline, and oxidative damage to membranes. AM fungi considerably promoted root proline and total soluble sugars and total phenolics in shoots and roots versus non-mycorrhizal V. officinalis. Moderate salinity stress increased valerenic acid production, which was more pronounced in F. mosseae inoculated plants. The outcome of the symbiosis was associated with the AM species used, and F. mosseae was more efficient than R. intraradices in the alleviation of salinity stress. This study suggests the potential use of mycorrhizal technology as a practical biotechnological approach to enhance growth and augment bioactive compounds production of V. officinalis in salt-affected soils.

The roots of Valeriana officinalis L. (Valerianaceae) are used for treating sleep disorders and/or mild nerve tension. The effect of valerenic acid on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has not yet been studied, although it is known that gamma-amino butyric acid A (GABAA) receptor is regulated by BDNF, which modulates the depressive-like behavior and neurogenesis. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of V. officinalis root extract (VO), its main constituents valerenic acid (VA) and acetoxy valerenic acid (AVA) as well as valerenic acid-free (VAF), acetoxy valerenic acid-free (AVAF) extracts and increasing amounts of valerenic acid containing extracts on the BDNF expression in SH-SY5Y cell lines. The effect of methanolic extracts of VO, VA, AVA, VAF, AVAF, and the extracts whose amount of VA were increased gradually, were tested using a Human BDNF ELISA kit with 17β-estradiol as a positive control. The VO and VA extracts caused a significant (p

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) is a medicinal plant, but its cultivation is restricted by weed competition. Therefore, three rates (0.75X, 1X, and 1.25X, where X is equal to the recommended dose of haloxyfop-R (methyl ester), sethoxydim, oxadiargyl, bentazon, oxadiazon, and oxyfluorfen) were applied at the 3-4 leaf stages to valerian plants. This application was done to select the herbicide type and rate for post-controlling broadleaf and grasses weeds in this species. Herbicide injury, Soil-Plant Analyses Development (SPAD) reading, number of leaves per plant, stem diameter, and fresh and dry weights were determined 10, 20, and 30 days after herbicide application. Oxyfluorfen application caused the most herbicide injury followed by bentazon. Injury increased as the rate and the days after application increased. Oxadiazon only caused significant damage 30 days after application under all three rates. Other treatments showed no marked injuries under any rate or date after application, as compared with the control. Effects on other measured traits depended on the trait, herbicide, and herbicide rate. The highest SPAD, leaf number, shoot diameter, fresh weight and dry weight, was recorded under application of 30 mg a.i. ∙ kg-1soil oxadiargyl and 90 mg a.i. ∙ kg-1soil oxadiazon, 81 mg a.i. ∙ kg-1soil haloxyfop-R, 37.5 mg a.i. ∙ kg-1soil oxadiargyl, 22.5 mg a.i. ∙ kg-1soil oxadiargyl, 81 mg a.i. ∙ kg-1soil haloxyfop-R, and 81 mg a.i. ∙ kg-1soil haloxyfop-R, respectively. To sum up, the results showed that sethoxydim, oxadiargyl, and haloxyfop-R produced no significant symptoms of phytotoxicity or reduction of measured traits. This means that oxadiargyl, haloxyfop-R, and sethoxydim may be used safely for weed control of valerian at the rates used in this experiment under similar conditions.

Background: Traditionally, the plant Valeriana officinalis is used for various diseases via headaches, anxiety, high blood pressure, menstrual cramps, epilepsy including neuronal disorders. Objective: To evaluate the neuroprotective activity of Valeriana officinalis against global cerebral ischemia induced oxidative stress in rat. Materials and methods: Neuroprotective activity was carried out by oxidative stress on Sprague-Dawley rats. Evaluation of cerebroprotective activity of Valeriana officinalis (100, 200 and 400 mg kgG 1 oral doses) was carried out by using, the global cerebral ischemia induced by Bilateral Carotid Artery (BCA) occlusion for 30 min, followed by 24 h reperfusion. The antioxidant enzymatic and non-enzymatic levels were estimated along with cerebral infarction area, blood brain barrier disruption and histophathological studies. Results: The ethanol extract of Valeriana officinalis showed neuroprotective activity by significant decrease in lipid peroxidation (p

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to compare the dynamic antioxidant activities and the free radical scavenging abilities of three botanical supplements, Hypericum perforatum L. (HPL), Herba Verbena Officinalis (HVO), and Valeriana officinalis L. (VO), which have been reported to effectively treat menopause symptoms. Methods: The antioxidant activities of the three supplements were determined by the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay. In addition, their free radical scavenging abilities were studied by ftheir interactions with the stable radicals of 2, 2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Results: The results indicated that the HPL ethanolic extract exhibited greater antioxidant activity (1.2688 ± 0.01 mmol Trolox/g) than the HVO ethanolic extract (1.1686± 0.043 mmol Trolox/g) and the VO ethanolic extract (0.2579 ± 0.0031 mmol Trolox/g) as compared to Nilestriol (0.0026±0.0012), a positive control agent in the experiment. Moreover, the HPL extract showed remarkable free radical scavenging activity against ABTS•+, and the HVO extract was the most potent against DPPH•. Conclusion: These activities may be attributed to the total flavonoid or phenolic acid contents of among these extracts.

Valeriana officinalis (Valerian) root extracts have been used by European and Asian cultures for millennia for their anxiolytic and sedative properties. However, the efficacy of these extracts suffers from variable yields and composition, making these extracts a prime candidate for microbial production. Recently, valerenic acid, a C15 sesquiterpenoid, was identified as the active compound that modulates the GABAA channel. Although the first committed step, valerena-4,7(11)-diene synthase, has been identified and described, the complete valerenic acid biosynthetic pathway remains to be elucidated. Sequence homology and tissue-specific expression profiles of V. officinalis putative P450s led to the discovery of a V. officinalis valerena-4,7(11)-diene oxidase, VoCYP71DJ1, which required coexpression with a V. officinalis alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase to complete valerenic acid biosynthesis in yeast. Further, we demonstrated the stable integration of all pathway enzymes in yeast, resulting in the production of 140 mg/L of valerena-4,7(11)-diene and 4 mg/L of valerenic acid in milliliter plates. These findings showcase Saccharomyces cerevisiae's potential as an expression platform for facilitating multiply-oxidized medicinal terpenoid pathway discovery, possibly paving the way for scale up and FDA approval of valerenic acid and other active compounds from plant-derived herbal medicines.

This study concerned with phytochemical investigation and methods of extraction and separation of active constituents from Valeriana officinalis plant cultivated in Iraq. Due to the large number of active constituents in Valeriana officinalis, it was necessary to make analytical study of its constituents to determine the chemical nature of these constituents and then determine the main classes (terpenes and iridoids) using chemical reagents specific for each class. Different organic solvents like ethanol (70%) used in soxhlet apparatus and hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol were used separately to extract the main active constituents by maceration. Through comparison between these solvents using thin layer chromatography (TLC), it has been found that hexane was best suited to extract most of the active constituents from the plant by maceration method. Analytical study showed that terpens was separated and purified using preparative TLC and preparative HPLC. Identification of isolated component (valtrate) from roots of plant was obtained using HPLC and PHPLC also depending on some material-specific constants such as infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results of analysis showed that Valeriana officinalis cultivated in Iraq is a good source of many constituents with different important pharmacological activities. The pharmacological study showed that the total organic plant extract has sleep induction effect when injected I.P. to experimental mice. Key wards: Valeriana officinalis, Valepotriate, Insomnia.

A series of hydrophilic ionic liquids (ILs) were investigated as extractants for the quantitative determination of valerenic and acetoxyvalerenic acids in Valerianae radix. The influence of different factors, e.g. type of cation and anion, alkyl chain length, concentration, temperature, extraction time and solid–liquid ratio, was investigated. The results obtained showed that the extraction yield is strongly dependent on the cation type. The best outcome was obtained with IL capable of forming micelles in aqueous solution, e.g. 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. As a result, an alternative protocol for the quantification of sesquiterpenic acids in valerian was developed and validated.

Valerenic acid (VA) is a pharmacologically-active sesquiterpene found in valerian (Valeriana officinalis L., Valerianaceae) roots and rhizomes. The plant produces only small amounts of this metabolite naturally. So, induction of hairy roots as well as elicitation can be useful to increase its commercial production. In this study, Wild-type strain ‘A13’ of Agrobacterium rhizogenes was used to induce hairy roots in valerian. The influence of three different elicitors including Fusarium graminearum extract (FE), methyl jasmonate (MJ) and salicylic acid (SA) on VA production in the selected hairy root line ‘LeVa-C4’ was also investigated. The 23-day-old cultures were treated with different concentrations of the elicitors at exposure time of 3 and 7 days. FE (1%) and MJ (100 µM L−1) highly promoted VA production at 7 days after elicitation, to a level of 12.31- and 6-fold higher than that of non-elicited controls, respectively, and FE did not exert any negative effects on biomass yield of hairy root. SA did not significantly increase the production of VA. This is the first time study to assess the elicitation of hairy root cultures to promote VA biosynthesis in valerian and the resulting experiments demonstrated that F. graminearum extract and MJ were indeed a potent inducer of VA biosynthesis.

We compared the ability of different plant-based expression platforms to produce geraniol, a key metabolite in the monoterpenoid branch of the terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis pathway. A geraniol synthase gene isolated from Valeriana officinalis (VoGES) was stably expressed in different tobacco systems. Intact plants were grown in vitro and in the greenhouse and were used to generate cell sus- pension and hairy root cultures. VoGES was also transiently expressed in N. benthamiana. The highest geraniol content was produced by intact transgenic plants grown in vitro (48 lg/g fresh weight, fw), followed by the transient expression system (27 lg/g fw), transgenic plants under hydroponic conditions in the greenhouse and cell suspension cultures (16 lg/g fw), and finally hairy root cultures (9 lg/g fw). Differences in biomass production and the duration of cultivation resulted in a spectrum of geraniol productivities. Cell suspension cultures achieved a geraniol production rate of 1.8 lg/g fresh biomass per day, whereas transient expression produced 5.9 lg/g fresh biomass per day (if cultivation prior to agroinfiltration is ignored) or 0.5 lg/g fresh biomass per day (if cultivation prior to agroinfiltration is included). The superior productivity, strict process control and simple handling procedures available for transgenic cell suspension cultures suggest that cells are the most promising system for further optimization and ultimately for the scaled- up production of geraniol.

Valeneomerins A–D, two new neomerane-type sesquiterpenoids and two new nor-sesquiterpenoids, were isolated from the roots of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia. Among them, valeneomerin A (1) was identified as a sesquiterpenoid with an unprecedented 15,3-lactone loop while valeneomerin C (3) and valeneomerin D (4) were determined to be nor-sesquiterpenoids with a new 15-reductive neomerane-type carbon skeleton. Their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and Cu Kα X-ray crystallography. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 exhibited significant neuroprotective effects against H2O2 induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells with viability of 49.8, 40.9, and 44.6% each at 50 μM, respectively, in contrast to positive control (catechin, 50 μM) with viability of 32.6%.

Valeriana officinalis is used in herbal medicine of many cultures as mild sedatives and tranquilizers. In this study, we investigated the effects of extract from valerian root extracts and its major component, valerenic acid on memory function, cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation, serum corticosterone, and lipid peroxidation in adult and aged mice. For the aging model, D-galactose (100 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously to 6-week-old male mice for 10 weeks. At 13 weeks of age, valerian root extracts (100 mg/kg) or valerenic acid (340 μg/kg) was administered orally to control and D-galactose-treated mice for 3 weeks. The dosage of valerenic acid (340 μg/kg), which is the active ingredient of valerian root extract, was determined by the content of valerenic acid in valerian root extract (3.401±0.066 mg/g) measured by HPLC. The administration of valerian root extract and valerenic acid significantly improved the preferential exploration of new objects in novel object recognition test and the escape latency, swimming speeds, platform crossings, and spatial preference for the target quadrant in Morris water maze test compared to the D-galactose-treated mice. Cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation were significantly decreased, while serum corticosterone level and lipid peroxidation in hippocampus were significantly increased in the D-galactose-treated group compared to that in the control group. The administration of valerian root extract significantly ameliorated these changes in the dentate gyrus of both control and D-galactose-treated groups. In addition, valerenic acid also mitigated the D-galactose-induced reduction of these changes. These results indicate that valerian root extract and valerenic acid enhance cognitive function, promote cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, and reduce serum corticosterone and lipid peroxidation in aged mice.

Three new germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids, volvalerenal F (1), volvalerenal G (2) and volvalerenic acid D (3), along with five known compounds 4-8, were isolated from the CHCl₃ soluble partition of the ethanol extract of Valeriana officinalis var. latiofolia. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, including their 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra, as well as mass spectrometry. The eight germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids showed nerve growth factor (NGF) potentiating activity, which mediates the neurite outgrowth in PC 12D cells. This study intends to reveal the chemical basis of the use of V. officinalis var. latiofolia as a dietary supplement.

The volatile compounds from roots, stems, and leaves of Valeriana hardwickii and Valeriana officinalis were obtained by microdistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC–FID) and gas chromatography–mass spectometry (GC–MS). In V. hardwickii, sixty-two, thirty-one, and thirty-one components were identified representing 90, 90, and 92% of total oil in the roots, stems, and leaves, respectively. The major compounds in the root oil were camphene (12.9%), bornyl acetate (17.6%), and maaliol (10.6%), while borneol (6.2%), trans-anethole (32.7%), and maaliol (6.3%) were the dominant components in the stem oil and camphene (12.6%), bornyl acetate (15.0%), and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (9.2%) were the principal components in the leaf oil. In V. officinalis, bornyl acetate (7.8%), δ-elemene (9.3%), and valerenal (14.7%) were the dominant components in the roots among fifty-four compounds identified which accounted for 80% of the total oil. In contrast to V. hardwickii, the stems and...

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T15:29:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-05-02 Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Jovenes Investigadores (Colciencias) Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. A theoretical approach of our previous experiments reporting the cytoprotective effects of the Valeriana officinalis compounds extract for PD is suggested. In addiction to considering the PD as a result of mitochondrial metabolic imbalance and oxidative stress, such as in our previous in vitro model of rotenone, in the present manuscript we added a genomic approach to evaluate the possible underlying mechanisms of the effect of the plant extract. Microarray of substantia nigra (SN) genome obtained from Allen Brain Institute was analyzed using gene set enrichment analysis to build a network of hub genes implicated in PD. Proteins transcribed from hub genes and their ligands selected by search ensemble approach algorithm were subjected to molecular docking studies, as well as 20 ns Molecular Dynamics (MD) using a Molecular Mechanic Poison/Boltzman Surface Area (MMPBSA) protocol. Our results bring a new approach to Valeriana officinalis extract, and suggest that hesperidin, and probably linarin are able to relieve effects of oxidative stress during ATP depletion due to its ability to binding SUR1. In addition, the key role of valerenic acid and apigenin is possibly related to prevent cortical hyperexcitation by inducing neuronal cells from SN to release GABA on brain stem. Thus, under hyperexcitability, oxidative stress, asphyxia and/or ATP depletion, Valeriana officinalis may trigger different mechanisms to provide neuronal cell protection. Univ Estadual Sudoeste Bahia, Dept Ciencias Biol, Jequie, Brazil Univ Estadual Sudoeste Bahia, Dept Quim & Exatas, PNPD CAPES, Jequie, Brazil Pontificia Univ Javeriana, Fac Ciencias, Dept Nutr & Bioquim, Bogota, DC, Colombia UBA CONICET, Inst Invest Cardiol Prof Dr Alberto C Taquini INI, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biol, Dept Bioquim, Campinas, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Estadual Feira Santana, Dept Ciencias Biol, Feira De Santana, Brazil Univ Autonoma Chile, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Santiago, Chile Univ Cient Sur, Lima, Peru Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biol, Dept Bioquim, Campinas, SP, Brazil Pontificia Universidad Javeriana: 5575 Pontificia Universidad Javeriana: 5024 Jovenes Investigadores (Colciencias): 6027

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of foliar application of polyamines (PAs) on antioxidant defence and essential oil production of valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) grown under different drought stress treatments (100, 70, 50 and 30% available water content). This study was carried out using pots in greenhouse condition. Drought–stressed valerian seedlings were sprayed with 1 mM concentration of each putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm). The results showed that drought stress significantly affected most biochemical characteristics of valerian plants. Characteristics including leaf relative water content, chlorophyll a and b contents were decreased, while carotenoids and electrolyte leakage were increased with the increase of water stress. In this research, defensive characteristics comprising proline content, soluble sugars, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase were increased followed by drought stress to ameliorate the adverse effect of it. Results revealed that foliar application of Spd and Spm provoked the antioxidant enzymes activity as well as proline accumulation in valerian which alleviate the membrane damages. Consequently, Spd and Spm increased photosynthetic pigments which act as energy supply for plant growth and production. Here, putrescine had detrimental effects on CAT activity and Chl a content. Albeit, PAs presented remarkable effects under moderate drought stress condition but it showed reverse trends in severe drought stress condition. In terms of quantity and quality yield, drought stress reduced root growth but increased the concentration of essential oils. PAs are able to alleviate water deficit-induced diminish root growth. These results suggest that in moderate drought stress, growers can use PAs to increase productivity valerian.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a popular medicinal plant in North America and Europe. Its root extract is commonly used as a mild sedative and anxiolytic. Among dozens of chemical constituents (e.g. alkaloids, iridoids, flavonoids, and terpenoids) found in valerian root, valerena-4,7(11)-diene and valerenic acid (C15 sesquiterpenoid) have been suggested as the active ingredients responsible for the sedative effect. However, the biosynthesis of the valerena-4,7(11)-diene hydrocarbon skeleton in valerian remains unknown to date. To identify the responsible terpene synthase, next-generation sequencing (Roche 454 pyrosequencing) was used to generate ∼ 1 million transcript reads from valerian root. From the assembled transcripts, two sesquiterpene synthases were identified (VoTPS1 and VoTPS2), both of which showed predominant expression patterns in root. Transgenic yeast expressing VoTPS1 and VoTPS2 produced germacrene C/germacrene D and valerena-4,7(11)-diene, respectively, as major terpene products. Purified VoTPS1 and VoTPS2 recombinant enzymes confirmed these activities in vitro, with competent kinetic properties (K(m) of ∼ 10 μm and k(cat) of 0.01 s(-1) for both enzymes). The structure of the valerena-4,7(11)-diene produced from the yeast expressing VoTPS2 was further substantiated by (13) C-NMR and GC-MS in comparison with the synthetic standard. This study demonstrates an integrative approach involving next-generation sequencing and metabolically engineered microbes to expand our knowledge of terpenoid diversity in medicinal plants.

Essential oils from the subterranean organs of three species of Valeriana L. from Iran (Valeriana sisymbriifolia Vahl, Valeriana alliariifolia Adams and Valeriana officinalis L.) belonging to Valerianaceae family have been obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to discern the differences and similarities between the volatile chemical compositions of these species. More than 100 components were identified in essential oils of the studied plants (Supplementary Table S1--online only). The principal common constituents of the three species of Valeriana were spathulenol, limonene, γ-terpinene, vulgarone B and p-cymene. The main essential oil ingredients were α-selinene (7.83%) in V. sisymbriifolia, limonene (3.53%) in V. alliariifolia and spathulenol (13.33%), α-campholenal (11.48%), vulgarone B (8.38%) and valerenal (8.32%) in V. officinalis plants. Ageratochromene (precocene II), a chromene substance with antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal and antijuvenile hormonal activities, was found at high levels (35.59% and 36.58%) in the essential oils of V. sisymbriifolia plants.

Eight new germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids, volvalerenals A-E (2-6) and volvalerenic acids A-C (7-9), along with four known compounds, were isolated from a chloroform extract of the roots of Valeriana officinalis. var. latifolia. The structures and relative configurations of 2-9 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. The effects of all compounds isolated on acetylcholinesterase were evaluated.

Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) is a popular and widely available herbal supplement, primarily used to treat insomnia and anxiety. Until recently, its mechanism of action has remained unknown. Neurobiological research has begun to show that the herb, with its active valerenic acid, interacts with the GABA(A)-ergic system, a mechanism of action similar to the benzodiazepine drugs. This series of experiments sought to corroborate these findings with behavioral measures, compare them to the benzodiazepine diazepam, and to analyze the chemical composition of Valeriana officinalis. Rats were administered either ethanol (1 ml/kg), diazepam (1mg/kg), valerian root extract (3 ml/kg), valerenic acid (3mg/kg), or a solution of valerenic acid and exogenous GABA (75 microg/kg and 3.6 microg/kg, respectively) and assessed for the number of entries and time spent on the open arms of an elevated plus maze. Results showed that there was a significant reduction in anxious behavior when valerian extract or valerenic acid exposed subjects were compared to the ethanol control group. The evidence supports Valeriana officinalis as a potential alternative to the traditional anxiolytics as measured by the elevated plus maze.

The content of essential oil and valerenic acids and the yield of roots were analyzed in valerian cultivar ‘Polka’ and strain no. 4 during the nine following phases: the beginning of vegetation, spring rosette, pedicel development, the beginning of flowering, full bloom, seed harvest, three weeks after the seed harvest, fall rosette, and after the first frost. The yield of valerian roots was different at the investigated phases and in years of cultivation, while tested genotypes produced similar root yields. The highest contents of essential oil and valerenic acids were obtained at different phases by the tested genotypes: strain no. 4 in full bloom (1.3% and 0.266%, respectively) and cultivar ‘Polka’ three weeks after seed harvest (1.25%) and during seed harvest (0.218%). The lowest contents of the investigated substances were detected at the beginning of growth and after the first frost in both genotypes. The obtained results revealed significant differences in essential oil and valerenic acids...

Two new iridoids, volvaltrates A and B (1 and 2), and three new sesquiterpenoids, E-(-)-3 beta,4 beta-epoxyvalerenal (3), E-(-)-3 beta,4 beta-epoxyvalerenyl acetate (4), and mononorvaleretione (5), together with five known iridoids and two known sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the roots of Valeriana officinalis. The structures and relative configurations of 1-5 were elucidated by spectroscopic evidence. Compound 1 was an unusual iridoid with an oxygen bridge connecting C-3 and C-10, forming a cage-like structure, and compound 5 was a mononorsesquiterpenoid.

Dried valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ) root powder was stored at 5, 14 and 30 °C under low, moderate and high humidity conditions for 6 months, and the level of the valerenic acids monitored on a monthly basis. From an initial moisture content of 5 g/kg, the moisture level during storage decreased in root powder stored at low humidity and increased during storage at high humidity, with the effect greatest at 30 °C. The concentration of valerenic acid significantly decreased over time and was affected by temperature and humidity with the loss greatest at 30 °C in low humidity. Acetoxyvalerenic acid also decreased over time but with greatest loss at 30 °C and high humidity. Hydroxyvalerenic acid was not detected in the fresh sample but was present in all stored samples and tended to reflect the decrease in acetoxyvalerenic acid. The concentration of total valerenic acids essentially mirrored the change in valerenic acid. It is concluded that maximum retention of valerenic acids would be achieved by storing valerian at a temperature lower than about 14 °C with humidity not a great concern. If storage is to occur at higher temperatures, retention of valerenic acids is favoured by storage under a high humidity but such a recommendation is not considered practical due to the risk of microbial growth and increasing difficulty of postharvest handling of moist material.

Aim To study the chemical constituents of the roots of Valeriana officinalis L. Methods Chemical constituents were isolated by various column chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Results A new sesquiterpene, orivalerianol (4β, 10α, 15-trihydroxy-aromadrendane) ( 1 ), and a new iridoid, monovalerianester A (aglycone of kanokoside A) ( 2 ) together with eight known compounds rulepidol ( 3 ), behenic acid ( 4 ), pinoresinol ( 5 ), valerenic acid ( 6 ), β-sitosterol ( 7 ), kanokoside A ( 8 ), prinsepiol-4- O -β- D -glucoside ( 9 ) and 8-hydroxypinoresinol-4 - O -β- D -glucoside ( 10 ) were obtained from the EtOAc extract ( 1∼6 ) and n -BuOH extract ( 7∼10 ). Conclusion Compounds 1 and 2 are new natural products.

The volatile constituents from roots of Valeriana officinalis L. were investigated using GC and GC/MS methods. Valerianae radix samples were obtained from retail pharmacies of different European countries. The roots of 15 V. offcinalis samples yielded 0.19–1.16% essential oil on a dry weight basis. The basic oil components among the identified 86 compounds were bornyl acetate (2.9–33.7%), α-fenchene (0–28.3%), valerianol (0.2–18.2%), valerenal (tr-15.6%), isovaleric acid (0–13.1%), camphene (0–11.1%) and valeranone (0.5–10.9%). Bornyl acetate/valerenal chemotype was characteristic for 9 of the 15 samples of valerian roots from different European countries. Some samples did not contain α-fenchene and camphene (Germany, Czech), isovaleric acid (France, Moldova, Russia 2) and valerianic acid (Estonia, Ukraine 1, Scotland, Moldova, Russia 1). Valerian root oil from Estonia was rich in essential oil, bornyl acetate (33.7%), valerianol (16.8%) and valeranone (9.5%).

The dynamic behavior of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of valerenic acid (VA) from valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) roots was studied by mathematical modeling. The extraction yield of VA was considered as the most desirable compound among the other extracted constituents. A two-phase desorption model was developed by considering a diffusion controlled regime in the particle and axial dispersion in the bed. The mass transfer parameters, i.e., pore diffusivity, film mass transfer coefficient and axial dispersion, along with the solubility parameters were chosen as the model parameters. The first three mass transfer parameters were predicted using nondimensional equations from the literature. The solubility equation and the parameters were studied using different equilibrium models, i.e., Henry, Langmuir, Freundlich, Langmuir-Freundlich (L-F) and Toth isotherms. The equilibrium parameters were correlated by comparing the outlet results of the dynamic SFE model with experiments. The experimental yield of the VA extraction was obtained at a pressure of 15.0–36.0 MPa, temperature of 310–334 K, solvent flow rate of 0.50–1.10 · 10–6 m3/min and different particle sizes ranging from 0.18–2.00 · 10–3 m in diameter, at a 20 min constant static period, in the presence of 46.9 μL/g ethanol as the co-solvent, followed by dynamic time extraction for up to 50 min. From the results, the mathematical model using the L-F equation exhibited the best agreement with the experimental yield of VA extraction in the range of studied conditions. The present model can be applied to design and scale up the SFE process of VA from Valeriana officinalis L. roots.

The composition of essential oil extracted from Valeriana officinalis L. roots growing wild in Iran was studied by hydrodistillation and supercritical CO2 extraction. Forty-seven components representing 89.3% and 35 constituents varying from 86.1% to 95.1% of the oil obtained by hydrodistillation and supercritical CO2 were identified, respectively. The major components in the extracted oil from supercritical CO2 were isovaleric acid (18.7-41.8%), valerenic acid (8.2-11.8%), acetoxyvaleranone (5.6-9.6%), (Z)-valernyl acetate (4.5-6.5%), bornyl acetate (2.3-7.7%) and valerenol (3.7-5.2%), whereas by hydrodistillation were bornyl acetate (11.6%), valerenic acid (8.0%), (Z)-valernyl acetate (7.9%) and acetoxyvaleranone (7.6%). The analysis of the extracts was performed by capillary GC and GC/MS.