Valerian (herb)

The name of the herb is derived from the personal name Valeria and the Latin verb {{Lang|la|valere}} (to be strong, healthy).{{OEtymD|valerian}}[http://www.latin-dictionary.net/definition/38320/valeo-valere-valui-valitus Latin definition for: valeo, valere, valui, valitus] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328051611/http://www.latin-dictionary.net/definition/38320/valeo-valere-valui-valitus |date=2014-03-28 }}. latin-dictionary.net Other names used for this plant include garden valerian (to distinguish it from other Valeriana species), garden heliotrope (although not related to Heliotropium), setwall and all-heal (which is also used for plants in the genus Stachys).{{cite web |date=9 June 2022 |title=Valerian |url=https://www.drugs.com/npp/valerian.html |access-date=22 July 2022 |publisher=Drugs.com}} Red valerian, often grown in gardens, is also sometimes referred to as "valerian", but is a different species (Centranthus ruber), from the same family but not very closely related. Valerian is also called cat's love for its catnip-like effects.

The plant grows up to {{convert|2|m|ft|0|abbr=off}} tall and 1 m wide. The erect stems are unbranched, with pinnately divided, toothed leaves. The flowers are light pink, grouped in both compound and secondary clusters.{{Cite book |last=Francis-Baker |first=Tiffany |title=Concise Foraging Guide |date=2021 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-1-4729-8474-6 |series=The Wildlife Trusts |location=London |pages=79}}

In the summer the mature plant can bear sweetly scented pink or white flowers.

The plant is native to Europe and Asia.{{cite web |date=15 March 2013 |title=Valerian |url=https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Valerian-HealthProfessional/ |access-date=2 April 2018 |publisher=Office of Dietary Supplements, US National Institutes of Health}} It is widespread in Britain.

The flowers attract many fly species, especially hoverflies of the genus Eristalis.{{cite journal |last1=Van Der Kooi |first1=C. J. |last2=Pen |first2=I. |last3=Staal |first3=M. |last4=Stavenga |first4=D. G. |last5=Elzenga |first5=J. T. M. |year=2015 |title=Competition for pollinators and intra-communal spectral dissimilarity of flowers |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273158762 |url-status=live |journal=Plant Biology |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=56–62 |doi=10.1111/plb.12328 |pmid=25754608 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929075730/https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Casper_Van_Der_Kooi/publication/273158762_Competition_for_pollinators_and_intracommunal_spectral_dissimilarity_of_flowers/links/553122910cf2f2a588ace06c.pdf?origin=publication_detail&ev=pub_int_prw_xdl&msrp=156o8z3LbHGvSYKAR%2BxM7a0%2BD7zBXCIlIRZA4sCK%2FwDY4dQUizWow4itk77Rb0zcqcye6%2BGxNrJpPjT%2F6rYpOE0YD5myTyQp7ORfnfI5DfU%3D_aoupfL8XxKQD0uLWnjpkK5W0d3LW8onR1q4bPYB94Oj3S4rNfG9H3VEZaoDog5H1K3yCHsSHJ6P3kIO1KHSbvQ%3D%3D&inViewer=1 |archive-date=2015-09-29}} The plant is consumed as food by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species, including the grey pug.

Valerian is considered an invasive species in many locations outside its natural range, including the U.S. state of Connecticut where it is officially banned,{{cite web |title=USDA PLANTS Database – Connecticut State-listed Noxious Weeds |url=http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626215328/http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=09 |archive-date=2014-06-26}} and in New Brunswick, Canada, where it is listed as a plant of concern.{{cite book |author=New Brunswick Invasive Species Council |url=http://nbisc.ca/images/field_guide_en.pdf |title=Field Guide to 12 Invasive Plants of Concern in New Brunswick |year=2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026172515/http://nbisc.ca/images/field_guide_en.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-26 |url-status=bot: unknown}}

Valerian root is a cat attractant, containing attractant semiochemicals in a way similar to catnip, which can lead to a behaviour modification effect in cats.{{cite journal |last1=Bol |first1=Sebastiaan |date=16 March 2017 |title=Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and catnip (Nepeta cataria) |journal=BMC Veterinary Research |volume=13 |issue=1 |page=70 |doi=10.1186/s12917-017-0987-6 |pmc=5356310 |pmid=28302120 |doi-access=free}} Its roots and leaves are one of three alternatives for the one-third of domesticated or medium-sized cats who do not feel the effects of catnip.{{cite web |year=2014 |title=Catnip (Nepeta cataria) – Everything You Need to Know About Catnip! |url=http://www.cat-world.com.au/all-about-catnip |access-date=2 January 2015 |website=Cat-World.com.au |publisher=Cat World}} Valerian root has also been reported to be attractive to rats and used to attract members of the family Canidae to traps.{{cite journal |last1=Tucker |first1=Arthur O. |last2=Tucker |first2=Sharon S. |date=April 1988 |title=Catnip and the catnip response |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf02858923 |journal=Economic Botany |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=214–231 |doi=10.1007/bf02858923 |issn=0013-0001 |s2cid=34777592}}

Known compounds detected in valerian include:

• Alkaloids: actinidine,Fereidoon Shahidi and Marian Naczk, Phenolics in food and nutraceuticals (Boca Raton, Florida, USA: CRC Press, 2004), [https://books.google.com/books?id=vHOJKw4umikC&pg=PA313 pp. 313–314] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624105109/http://books.google.com/books?id=vHOJKw4umikC&pg=PA313 |date=2013-06-24 }} {{ISBN|1-58716-138-9}}. chatinine,{{NoteTag|1= Although many sources list "catinine" as an alkaloid present in extracts from the root of Valeriana officinalis, those sources are incorrect. The correct spelling is "chatinine". It was discovered by S. Waliszewski in 1891. See:
• S. Waliszewski (15 March 1891). L'Union pharmaceutique, p. 109. Abstracts of this article appeared in: "Chatinine, alcaloïde de la racine de valériane". Répertoire de pharmacie, series 3, vol. 3, [https://books.google.com/books?id=aPkKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA166 pp. 166–167]; {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619055528/http://books.google.com/books?id=aPkKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA166 |date=2013-06-19 }} (April 10, 1891).
• American Journal of Pharmacy, vol. 66, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Bj0fAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA285 p. 285]; {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619145305/http://books.google.com/books?id=Bj0fAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA285 |date=2013-06-19 }} (June 1891).}} shyanthine, valerianine, and valerine
• Isovaleramide may be created in the extraction process.{{NoteTag|Isovaleramide does not appear to be a naturally occurring component of valerian plants; rather, it seems to be an artifact of the extraction process; specifically, it is produced by treating aqueous extracts of valerian with ammonia.{{cite journal |last1 = Balandrin |first1 = M. F. |last2 = Van Wagenen |first2 = B. C. |last3 = Cordell |first3 = G. A. |year = 1995 |title = Valerian-derived sedative agents. II. Degradation of Valmane-derived valepotriates in ammoniated hydroalcoholic tinctures |journal = Journal of Toxicology: Toxin Reviews |doi = 10.3109/15569549509097280 |volume = 14 |issue = 2 |pages = 88–252 }}}}
• Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
• Valeric acid{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Valeric Acid |volume=27 |page=859}}
• Isovaleric acid{{NoteTag|Isovaleric acid does not appear to be a natural constituent of V. officinalis; rather, it is a breakdown product that is created during the extraction process or by enzymatic hydrolysis during (improper) storage.[https://books.google.com/books?id=Z9HN5DxpYOQC&pg=PA22 pp. 22 and 123] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619073525/http://books.google.com/books?id=Z9HN5DxpYOQC&pg=PA22 |date=2013-06-19 }} of Peter J. Houghton, Valerian: the genus Valeriana (Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Harwood Academic Press, 1997) {{ISBN|90-5702-170-6}}.}}
• Iridoids, including valepotriates: isovaltrate and valtrate
• Sesquiterpenes (contained in the volatile oil): valerenic acid,{{cite journal |vauthors = Yuan CS, Mehendale S, Xiao Y, Aung HH, Xie JT, Ang-Lee MK |title = The gamma-aminobutyric acidergic effects of valerian and valerenic acid on rat brainstem neuronal activity. |journal = Anesth Analg |year = 2004 |volume = 98 |issue = 2 |pages = 353–8, table of contents |pmid = 14742369 |doi = 10.1213/01.ANE.0000096189.70405.A5 |citeseerx = 10.1.1.323.5518 |s2cid = 14526474 }} hydroxyvalerenic acid and acetoxyvalerenic acid{{cite journal |last1 = Wills |first1 = R.B.H. |last2 = Shohet |first2 = D. |title = Changes in valerenic acids content of valerian root (Valeriana officinalis L. s.l.) during long-term storage |journal = Food Chemistry |volume=115 |issue=1 |date=July 2009 |pages=250–253 |doi=10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.12.011 }}
• Flavanones: hesperidin,{{cite journal |vauthors = Marder M, Viola H, Wasowski C, Fernández S, Medina JH, Paladini AC |title = 6-methylapigenin and hesperidin: new valeriana flavonoids with activity on the CNS |journal = Pharmacol Biochem Behav |year=2003 |volume=75 |issue=3 |pages=537–45 |pmid=12895671 |doi=10.1016/S0091-3057(03)00121-7 |s2cid = 37559366 }} 6-methylapigenin, and linarin{{cite journal |vauthors = Fernández S, Wasowski C, Paladini AC, Marder M |title = Sedative and sleep-enhancing properties of linarin, a flavonoid-isolated from Valeriana officinalis |journal=Pharmacol Biochem Behav |year=2004 |volume=77 |issue=2 |pages=399–404 |pmid=14751470 |doi=10.1016/j.pbb.2003.12.003 |s2cid = 34347546 }}

The chief constituent of valerian is a yellowish-green to brownish-yellow oil present in the dried root, varying in content from 0.5 to 2.0%. This variation in quantity may be determined by location; a dry, stony soil yields a root richer in oil than moist, fertile soil.{{cite web |title=Valerian |publisher=Botanical.com |url=http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/v/valeri01.html |access-date=2007-04-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110083410/http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/v/valeri01.html |archive-date=2006-11-10 }}

File:ValerianEssentialOil.png

Although valerian is a common traditional medicine used for treating insomnia, there is no good evidence it is effective for this purpose.{{cite journal |vauthors=Leach MJ, Page AT |title=Herbal medicine for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=Sleep Med Rev |volume=24 |pages=1–12 |year=2015 |pmid=25644982 |doi=10.1016/j.smrv.2014.12.003 |type=Review}} Valerian has not been shown to be helpful in treating restless leg syndrome{{cite journal |vauthors=Bega D, Malkani R |title=Alternative treatment of restless legs syndrome: an overview of the evidence for mind-body interventions, lifestyle interventions, and neutraceuticals |journal=Sleep Med. |volume=17 |pages=99–105 |year=2016 |pmid=26847981 |doi=10.1016/j.sleep.2015.09.009 |type=Review}} or anxiety.{{cite journal |vauthors=Miyasaka LS, Atallah AN, Soares BG |title=Valerian for anxiety disorders |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |issue=4 |pages=CD004515 |year=2006 |pmid=17054208 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD004515.pub2 |type=Systematic review}}

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the health claim that valerian can be used as a traditional herb to relieve mild nervous tension and to aid sleep; the EMA stated that although there is insufficient evidence from clinical studies, its effectiveness as a dried extract is considered plausible.{{cite web |url= https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/valerianae-radix |title=European Medicines Agency - Find medicine - Valerianae radix |website=www.ema.europa.eu |access-date=2016-08-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817081353/http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages%2Fmedicines%2Fherbal%2Fmedicines%2Fherbal_med_000015.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001fa1d |archive-date=2016-08-17}}

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine's 2017 clinical practice guidelines recommended against the use of valerian in the treatment of insomnia due to poor effectiveness and low quality of evidence.{{cite journal | vauthors = Sateia MJ, Buysse DJ, Krystal AD, Neubauer DN, Heald JL | title = Clinical Practice Guideline for the Pharmacologic Treatment of Chronic Insomnia in Adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline | journal = J Clin Sleep Med | volume = 13 | issue = 2 | pages = 307–349 | date = February 2017 | pmid = 27998379 | pmc = 5263087 | doi = 10.5664/jcsm.6470 | url = }}

File:A bottle of Valerian capsules.jpg

Oral forms are available in both standardized and unstandardized forms. Standardized products may be preferable considering the wide variation of the chemicals in the dried root, as noted above. When standardized, it is done so as a percentage of valerenic acid or valeric acid. For commonly used doses, valerian is generally recognized as safe in the U.S.

Because the compounds in valerian produce central nervous system depression, they should not be used with other depressants, such as ethanol (drinking alcohol), benzodiazepines, barbiturates, opiates, kava, or antihistamine drugs.{{cite journal |vauthors=Klepser TB, Klepser ME |year=1999 |title=Unsafe and potentially safe herbal therapies |pmid=10030529|journal=Am J Health-Syst Pharm |volume=56 |issue=12538 |pages=125–38; quiz 139–41 |doi=10.1093/ajhp/56.2.125 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Wong AH, Smith M, Boon HS |year=1998 |title=Herbal remedies in psychiatric practice |pmid=9819073|journal=Arch Gen Psychiatry |volume=55 |issue=103344 |pages=1033–44 |doi=10.1001/archpsyc.55.11.1033}}{{cite journal |author=Miller LG |year=1998 |title=Herbal medicines. Selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions |pmid=9818800 |journal=Arch Intern Med |volume=158 |issue=220011 |pages=2200–11 |doi=10.1001/archinte.158.20.2200 |doi-access=free }}

As an unregulated product, the concentration, contents, and potential contaminants in valerian preparations cannot be easily determined. Because of this uncertainty and the potential for toxicity in the fetus and hepatotoxicity in the mother, valerian use is discouraged during pregnancy. Headache and diarrhea have occurred among subjects using valerian in clinical studies.

The young leaves can be cooked and the roots can be infused in hot beverages like hot chocolate.

File:Valeriana officinalis inflorescence - Niitvälja.jpg ]]

Valerian has been used as a herb in traditional medicine since at least the times of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen later prescribed it as a remedy for insomnia. In medieval Sweden, it was sometimes placed in the wedding clothes of a bridegroom to ward off the "envy" of the elves.Thorpe, Benjamin (1851) Northern Mythology. {{Cite web |url=http://archive.org/details/northernmytholog02thor |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-11-24 |archive-date=2013-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416031314/http://archive.org/details/northernmytholog02thor |url-status=bot: unknown }}. Lumley. Vol. 2. pp. 64–65. In the 16th century, Pilgram Marpeck prescribed valerian tea for a sick woman.{{cite journal |author=Torsten Bergsten |year=1958 |title=Two Letters by Pilgram Marpeck |journal=Mennonite Quarterly Review |volume=32 |page=200}}

John Gerard's Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes, first published in 1597, states that his contemporaries found valerian "excellent for those burdened and for such as be troubled with croup and other like convulsions, and also for those that are bruised with falls". He says that the dried root was valued as a medicine by the poor in the north of England and the south of Scotland, such that "no brothes, pottages or phisicalle meates are woorth [worth] anything if Setwall [valerian] were not at one end".{{cite book |author=John Gerard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pgZfAAAAcAAJ&q=Herball,+or+Generall+Historie+of+Plantes |title=Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes |publisher=John Norton |year=1597 |volume=4 |pages=919}}{{cite book |author=Grieve, Maud |title=A Modern Herbal: The Medicinal, Culinary, Cosmetic and Economic Properties, Cultivation and Folk-lore of Herbs, Grasses, Fungi, Shrubs, & Trees with All Their Modern Scientific Uses |year=1971 |volume=2}}

The 17th-century astrological botanist Nicholas Culpeper thought the plant was "under the influence of Mercury, and therefore hath a warming faculty". He recommended both herb and root, and said that "the root boiled with liquorice, raisons and aniseed is good for those troubled with cough. Also, it is of special value against the plague, the decoction thereof being drunk and the root smelled. The green herb being bruised and applied to the head taketh away pain and pricking thereof."

File:Valeriana officinalis0.jpg|V. officinalis leaves

File:Valeriana officinalis1.jpg|V. officinalis flowers

File:Valeriana officinalis - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-143.jpg|19th-century illustration of Valeriana officinalis

File:156 Valeriana officinalis L.jpg|Illustration of V. officinalis from {{Lang|fr|Atlas des plantes de France}}, 1891

File:Valeriana officinalis 001.JPG|V. officinalis

File:Valeriana officinalis.jpg|V. officinalis foliage

• Orvietan
• Spikenard
• Corvalol

{{NoteFoot}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/valerian Valerian], National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health, October 2020

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Category:Valeriana

Category:Cat attractants

Category:CYP3A4 inhibitors

Category:Medicinal plants

Category:Anxiolytics

Category:Flora of temperate Asia

Category:Flora of Europe

Category:Plants described in 1753

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

Category:GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators