Valerian, herb cats; al.: Echter Baldrian, Katzenwurze; English.: Valerian.
Underground organs (rhizomes, roots, runners)
Collective species whose type is diploid. This herbaceous perennial plant is characterized by its inflorescence cimosas terminals with pink or white flowers, pentámeras, epiginas. The androecium is reduced to three stamens, the gynoecium tricarpelar is unilocular by reduction. The result is an achene with a feathery Vilan.
Source
The species officinalis is common throughout Europe (except for the Mediterranean area) mainly in the wet meadows, ravines, the banks of the river, the weeds of the valleys. The drug is used mainly comes from crops grown in France, Germany and Eastern Europe.
Chemical composition
Many components have been isolated from the drug [125]: carbohydrates, fatty acids, acids, phenols, acids short chain, alkaloids [126], amino acids, GABA, flavonoids, essential oils with mono and carbides Sesquiterpenes, rich in esters of borneol [ See Urban, 1987].
The compounds are involved in the activity and Sesquiterpenes iridoides: the valepotriatos.
• Sesquiterpenes. Some are neutral: ketones (valeranona, faurinona), alcohols (E-valerianol), esters (ester E and Z of valerianol), aldehydes (valerenal), others are acids (valerénico acids, hydroxy valerénico, etc) [127].
• Valepotriatos. Triesters of alcohols cyclopenta [c] Piran, monoénicos 3 (4) or diénicos 3 (4), 5 (6), are generally 8.10-epoxidized and differentiate between them by the nature of the acid that functions esterified alcohols secondary (at 1 and 7) and primary (11) as they clearly demonstrate the techniques spectral [128]. The valepotriatos content is 0.5 to 1% and the compound is the majority valtrato (1ß, 7ß-diisovaleroxi 11-acetoxy), is accompanied by dihidrovaltrato, acevaltrato, IVHD-valtrato ...
All these components are unstable, especially in acidic conditions in which the lead DIENOS, among others, baldrinal [129].
Pharmacological data
Valerian has been studied much, both for its "reassuring" by the activity at the cellular level of certain components.
Activity on the S.N.C.
The valepotriatos and homobaldrinal decrease spontaneous motility in the mouse [130]. In the rat, the valepotriatos per you induce changes in the EEG similar to those caused by imipramine [131], decreasing anxiety and aggressiveness. On the other hand acid valerénico affects the behavior of the mouse in a non-specific [132], this acid and its derivatives inhibit GABAS [133]. For others the behavior of the mouse is not influenced by oral administration of valepotriatos [Bountnanh, 1985].
Activity spasmolytic
The extract of valerian is spasmolytic on the rabbit ileum. For the valepotriatos mixture is more active than papaverine on the ileum of Cobaya stimulated by histamine [134]; the valerianona and dihidrovaltrato relax the ileum stimulated by K + and inhibit (a 10-5-10-4 M) induced spasms BaCl2 [135]: the action is kind of musculotropa.
Cytotoxic activity
The valtrato is very toxic on the liver cells of rats. In vivo, dihidrovaltrato (40 mg / kg, mouse, ip) causes a regression, ie by 54% of cases, a referral of the tumor ascítico Krebs II [136 and ref. mentioned].
Observations on the Man
Some studies have been published relating to the mixture of valepotriatos (valtrato 15%, dihidrovaltrato 80%, acevaltrato 5%). Administered to 126 patients with insomnia and neurosis significantly improved its financial statements [Krueger, 1969, quoted by Bountnanh, 1985].
Several studies conducted in Germany achieved excellent results, qualifying for anxiolytic activity observed [ref.Bountnanh]. The aqueous extract of the drug significantly reduces the time for conciliation of sleep [137]. In addition there has been an improvement in the quality of it [138].
Employment
Despite recent data on the absence of valepotriatos in most of the preparations rapidly galenical and on the inactivation of these esters when administered orally (are not the only active substances ...), preparations of valerian continue being recommended in the treatment of neuro-vegetative disorders and in sleep.
The toxicity is very weak: LD50 extract (mouse, ip): 360-400 mg / kg, the LD50 per os of triesters is higher than 4.6 g / kg. No observable cytotoxicity seems that when there is a more direct contact between valepotriatos and tissues [Braun et al .., 1982]. Under certain conditions, it is noted mutagenesis of iridoides [139].
In Spain authorizing the use of this plant for the treatment of anxiety, emotion, nervousness and insomnia.
Precautions
Do not use in children under three. It can produce drowsiness.
The drug
The drug, with a very unpleasant smell characteristic, includes a rhizome ovoid or cylindrical (50 x 30 mm) that sometimes disappears in the midst of numerous cylindrical roots, fine, long, with a short section. The runners, with cutting fibrous, have knots striated lengthwise.
Although the French Pharmacopoeia prescribes identification (characterization of iridoides), analysis of the valepotriatos excerpt from a valuation and a clorometilénico of the essential oil, identification, it can also be done using high-performance liquid chromatography.
The differentiation of numerous species of the genus Valerian can be done by studying the contents Sesquiterpenes: varieties V. wallichii and V. edulis does not appear to contain acids valerénicos [140].
Bibliography
[125] P. J. HOUGHTON.
The biological activity of valerian and related plants.
J. of Ethnopharmacology, 22, 121-142, 1988.
[126] M. M. Janot, J. GUILHEM, O. Contzen, V. Georgescu and E. CIONGA.
Contribution to the study of alkaloids of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) actinidine et naphtyridyl méthyl-ketone nouvel alkaloids.
Ann. pharm Fr., 37, 413-420, 1979.
[127] R. BOS, H. HENDRIKS, A.P. Bruins, J. KLOSTERMAN and G. SIPMA.
Isolation and identification of valerenane sesquiterpenoids from Valeriana officinalis.
Phytochemistry, 25, 133-135, 1986.
[128] B.P. MIKHOVA, N.V. HANDJEVA, S.S. Popov and S.L. Passover.
Structural investigation of valepotriates on the basis of 1H-lanthanide-induced shifts.
J. Nat. Prod., 50, 1141-1145, 1987.
[129] N.L. MAREKOV, S.S. Popov and N.V. HANDJIEVA.
Chemistry of pharmaceutically important CYCLOPENTANE monoterpenes from some Valerian plants. In: Chemistry and Biotechnology of biologically Active Natural Products, 2nd Int. Conf. Budapest, 1983. Cs. SZANTAY, [130] H. WAGNER, K. JURCIC and R. SCHAETTE.
Vergleichende Untersuchungen über die sedierende Wirkung Baldrianextrakten von und ihren Abbauprodukten.
Planta Med., 38, 358-365, 1980.
[131] P. AMMELOUNX, E. HOLM, W. Langhans, H.D. And J. SCHERER BLATTER.
Vergleichende neurophysiologische Untersuchungen Valepotriaten und mit Extrakum Valerianae an Katzen.
Silver Med., 33, 282-283, 1978.
[132] H. HENDRICKS, R. BOS, H.J. WOERDENBAG and A. S. KOSTER.
Central nervous depressant activity of valerenic acid in the mouse.
Planta Med., 51, 28-31, 1985; see also: HENDRICKS et al. Ibid., 42, 62-68, 1981.
[133] E. RIEDEL, R. Hansel and G. EHRKE.
Hemmung des &-Aminobuttersäureabbaus durch Valerensäurederivate.
Planta Med., 46, 219-220, 1982.
[134] H. WAGNER and K. JURCIC.
On the spasmolytic activity of Valerian extracts.
Planta Med., 37, 84-95, 1979.
[135] B. HAZEKHOFF, T. M. MALINGRE and D.K.F MEIJER.
Antispasmodic effects of Valeriana compounds: an in vivo and in vitro study on the Guinea Pig ileum.
Arch. int. Pharmacodyn., 257, 274-287, 1982.
[136] R. ANTON, M. HAAG and B. Kuball.
Biological and therapeutic activity. The evaluation of substances derived from natural sources. In: Advances in medical Phytochemistry, D. Barton et W.D. Ollis, eds. London, John Libbey, P. 13-23, 1986.
[137] P.D. Leathwood and F. Chauffard.
Aqueous extract of Valerian reduces latency to fall asleep in Man.
Planta Med., 51, 144-148, 1985.
[138] P.D. Leathwood and F. Chauffard.
Quantifying the effects of mild sedatives.
J. Psychiatr. Res., 17, 115-122, 1983; see also P.D. Leathwood et al. Pharmacol. Biochem. and Behav., 17, 65-71, 1982.
[139] W. VON DER HUDE, M. SCHEUTWINKEL-REICH and R. BRAUN.
Bacterial Mutagenicity of the tranquilizing constituents of Valerianaceae roots.
Mutation Res. (169), 23-27, 1986; see also, on the actvidad of baldrinal: R. BRAUN et al. Planta Med., 52, 446-450, 1986
[140] W.E. Freytag.
Bestimmung von Valerensäuren und neben Valepotriaten in Valerenal Valeriana officinalis durch HPLC.
Pharmazeutische Zig., 128, 2869-2871, 1983; voir aussi: R. Hansel et al. Pharm. Ind., 47, 531-533, 1985.
Diseases whose treatment is appropriate in this plant
Insomnia
Stress and depression
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