Valerian - (Valeriana officinalis)

Abstract: Valerian has been the subject of most scientific investigations concerning the efficacy of phytopharmaceuticals for the treatment of nervous conditions and sleeplessness. Alt in all a subjective improvement in nervous conditions and steep quality could be established from placebo-controlled double-blind studies as well as from multi-centre studies.A wide range of pharmacological test methods con be applicated to investigate sedative and tranquilizing effects of different substances. Those methods used for the investigation of V. officinalis included the motility reduction of laboratory rodents, the lengthening of thiopental sleep, neurophysiological methods including the measurement of the pharmaco-EEG, the desoxyglucose technique measuring the glucosum sediment in different brain structures and the procedure of receptor-binding studies for tracing the effective substances. The total extracts of plants have been investigated with positive results in these Tests. Pharmacological studies on individual constituents were performed with valeranonesesquiterpenes, with valerenic acid and related sesquiterpenes, with volepotriates and their degradation products as well as with lignans. All these substances showed significant but only small effects in various pharmacological models. Therefore most scientists investigating valerian favour the opinion that not one single substance is responsible for the efficacy of valerian extract, but the cooperation of various constituents.

Keyword(s): Valeriana officinalis

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