Valeriana Wallichii Traditional Medicinal Plant Of India

R.Karthikeyan*, A.Suganthi, Sapna Shrikumar, T.K. Ravi

Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis,College of Pharmacy, SRIPMS,Coimbatore - 641044

*For Correspondence E.mail :: karthikeyan812@yahoo.co.in

Valeriana wallichii commonly known as Indian valerian is one of the important plant species of commerce, which belongs to the family Valerianaceae. It is native to India (Himalayas). Indian valerian is used in various pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of migraine. The active constituent if the root of valeriana wallichii is valerenic acid, valerenol, valerenone, valtrate, Isovaltrate.

INTRODUCTION^1-9

The plant root occurs in short, irregular pieces about 5 cm long and 6-12 cm in diameters marked with transverse ridges and bearing numerous, prominent, circular tubercles, to some of which on the under surface, thick rootlets are attached. The upper surface bears the remains of leaves. The rhizome is hard and tough internally, it is greenish-brown in color. The odour is powerfully valerianaceous.

DESCRIPTION¹²

Botanical names: Valeriana wallichi ( Indian Valerian ) , Valeriana leschenauitic, Valeriana brunoniana, Valeriana officinalis

Family: Valerianaceae

Common names: All-heal, Amantilla, Baldrian, Great wild, Valerian phu

Geographical distribution^1,9,10,12

Valeriana wallichii is an extremely polymorphous complex of sub-species with natural populations dispersed throughout temperate and sub-polar Eurasian zones. The species is common in damp woods, ditches, and along streams in Europe, and is cultivated as a medicinal plant, especially in Belgium, England, eastern Europe, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America.

Medicinal plant part used : Root

MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERISTICS^1,4,9,13

Rhizome, with epidermis of polygonal cells, having the outer walls slightly thickened; cork, immediately below the epidermis, of up to 7 layers of slightly suberized, brownish, large polygonal cells; cortex, parenchymatous with rather thick-walled parenchyma, containing numerous starch granules and traversed by numerous root-traces; endodermis of a single layer of tangentially elongated cells containing globules of volatile oil; pericycle, parenchymatous; vascular bundles, collateral, in a ring and surrounding a very large parenchymatous pith, containing starch granules and occasional scattered groups of sclereids with thick pitted walls and narrow lumen; xylem, with slender, annular, spiral, and pitted vessels, in small numbers. Branches similar to rhizome but with a prominent endodermis and a well-defined ring of vascular bundles, showing second-ary thickening.

Root, with piliferous layer, of papillosed cells, some developed into root hairs; exodermis, or a single layer of quadrangular to polygonal cells, with suberized walls, and containing globules of volatile oil; cortex, parenchyma-tous, with numerous starch granules, the outermost cells containing globules of volatile oil; endodermis, of 1 layer of cells with thickened radial walls; primary xylem, of 3–11 arches surrounding a small central parenchymatous pith con-taining starch granules, 5–15....m in diameter, sometimes showing a cleft or stellate hilum; the compound granules, with 2–6 components, up to 20....m in diameter. Older roots show a pith of starch-bearing parenchyma, vascular bundles with secondary thickening and a periderm originating in the piliferous layer.

Powdered plant material⁴

Light brown and characterized by numerous fragments of parenchyma with round or elongated cells and containing starch granules, 5–15....m in diameter, sometimes showing a cleft or stellate hilum, the compound granules, with 2–6 components, up to 20 m in diameter; cells containing light brown resin; rectangular sclereids with pitted walls,5–15 m thick; xylem, isolated or in noncompact bundles, 10–50 m in diameter; some absorbing root hairs and cork fragments are also present.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Plant:^12,21 (+)-Maalioxide, 2-Acetyl-Pyrrole, 7-Epideacetylisovaltrate, 8-Epikessanol, Acetoxy-Valepotriatum, Alpha-Curcumene, Alpha-Kessyl-Alcohol, Alpha-Methyl-2-Pyrrolyl-Ketone, Beta-Carotene, Caffeic-Acid, Capronic-Acid, Catalase, Dihydrovalepotriatum, Eremophilene, Gamma-Linolenic-Acid, Kaempferol, Kanokosides, Kessane, Kessene, Kessyl-Glycol, Kongol, Linoleic-Acid, Myrtenyl-Acetate, Myrtenyl-Isovalerianate, Oleic-Acid, Oxydase, P-Coumaric-Acid, Palmitic-Acid, Peroxidase, Quercetin, Saccharose, Valepotriatum, Valerenal, Valerenol, Valerenolic-Acid.

Root:^8,12,21 (S)-(-)-Actinidine, Acetic-Acid, Acevaltrate, Allo-Aromadendrene, Alpha-Fenchene, Alpha-Kerzylalcohol, Alpha-Valene, Aluminum, Ascorbic-Acid, Azulene, Baldrianic-Acid, Baldriatannic-Acid, Beta-Bisabolene, Beta-Elemene, Beta-Ionone, Beta-Phellandrene, Beta-Pinene, Beta-Sitosterol, Beta-Sitosterol-Stearate, Beta-Valene, Borneol, Bornyl-Acetate, Bornyl-Butyrate, Bornyl-Formate, Bornyl-Isovalerianate,

Calcium, Camphene, Carbohydrates, Caryophyllene,Chatinene, Chlorogenic-Acid, Choline, Chromium, Cobalt, Deacetylisolavtrate, Delta-Cadinene, Didrovaltrate, Eugenyl-Isovalerate, Fat, Faurinol, Faurinone, Fiber, Formic-Acid , Fructose, Gamma-Terpinene, Gamma-Valene, Glucose, Gum, Homodivaltrate, Homovaltrate, Hydroxyvalerinic-Acid, Iron, Isoeugenyl-Isovalerate, Isovalerianic-Acid, Isovaleric-Acid, Isovaleroxy-Hydroxy-Didrovaltrate, Ledol, Limonene, Maaliol, Magnesium, Manganese,

Myrcene, Myrtenol, N-(Beta-(P-Hydroxyphenyl)-Ethyl)-Actinidine, Niacin, P-Cymol Patcholyl-Alcohol, Phosphorus, Potassium, Protein, Raffinose, Resin, Riboflavin, Selenium, Silicon, Sodium, Terpinolene, Thiamin, Tin, Tridecen-(1)-Pentain(3,5,7,9,11), Valechlorine, Valenol, Valepotriates, Valerenic-Acid, Valerenone, Valerianine, Valerianol, Valerianolic-Acid, Valerianone, Valeric-Acid, Valerine, Valerosidatum, Valeroside-A, Valtrate, Valtrate-Isovaleroxyhydrin, Zinc.

STANDARDISED PARAMETERS

Microbiological Studies^14-16

The test for Salmonella spp. in Valeriana wallichii products should be negative.The maximum acceptable limits of other microorganisms are as follows . For preparation of Decoction: aerobic bacteria not more than 10⁷ /g; fungi not more than 10⁵ /g; Escherichia coli not more than 10² /g. Preparations for internal use: aerobic bacteria not more than 10⁵ /g or ml; fungi not more 10⁴/ mg ; enterobacteria and certain Gram-negative bacteria not more than 10 ³ /g or ml; Escherichia coli—0/g or ml.

Foreign organic matter:¹ Not more than 5%

Acid-insoluble ash:^1-5 Not more than 7%

Dilute ethanol-soluble extractive:^2-5 Not less than 15%

Pesticide residues:¹⁷ To be established in accordance with national requirements. Normally, the maximum residue limit of aldrin and dieldrin for valeriana wallichii is not more than 0.05 mg/kg.

Heavy metals:¹⁴ Recommended lead and cadmium levels are no more than 10 and 0.3mg/kg, respectively, in the final dosage form of the plant material.

Radioactive residues:¹⁴ For analysis of strontium-90, iodine-131, caesium-134, caesium-137, and plutonium-239.

Chemical assays: Contains not less than 0.5% v/w of essential oil^3-5, quantitatively determined by distillation^2-5. Content of individual constituents including valepotriates, valerenic acids and valerenal, determined by high-performance liquid^18-19 or gas–liquid²⁰ chromatographic methods.

MEDICINAL USES^5,8,12,22-25

Anodyne [an agent that soothes or relieves pain), antispasmodic [an agent which relieves or eases muscular spasms, cramps or convulsions], aromatic [a substance having an agreeable odor and stimulating qualities], calmative [an agent that has a mild sedative or tranquilizing effect], carminative [an agent for easing griping pains, colic and expelling gas from the intestines], diuretic [an agent that increases the volume and flow of urine which cleanses the urinary system], expectorant [an agent that promotes the discharge of mucous and secretions from the respiratory passages], nervine [an agent that has a calming or soothing effect on the nerves, any agent that acts on the nervous system to restore the nerves to their natural state] , relaxant, sedative [a soothing agent that reduces nervousness, distress or irritation], stimulant [an agent that excites or quickens the functional activity of the tissues giving more energy], tranquilizer (without any sluggish effects on the user

Valerian is used for:

Brain and Nervous Conditions^8,12

Anxiety, breathlessness, epilepsy (combined with Mistletoe), giddiness and fainting fits, Has a remarkable influence on the cerebro-spinal system, hypochrondriasis (abnormal concern about one's health), hysteria, insomnia, migraines (does not cause side effects like normal sleeping tablets do, it strengthens the nerves instead of anesthetizing them), nervous unrest and nervous tension, neuralgia, neurasthenia, St. Vitus Dance

Cardiovascular Conditions

Lowers blood pressure, palpitations of the heart and strengthens the heart

Gastrointestinal Conditions^8,12

Diverticulitis, irritable bowel, nervous dyspepsia, nervous stomach, stimulates digestion, stomach cramps

Female Conditions

Menstrual cramps

Liver Conditions

Aids liver function

Respiratory Conditions

Head congestion and helps loosen phlegm in difficult coughs and lung congestion (combined with Anise and Licorice)

Other

Muscle spasms and relieves pain

CAUTION

Valerian is not habit forming but should not be taken long-term as it can cause mental depression in some people after a long period of time.

If taken in excess it can cause: a stimulating rather than a relaxing effect, heaviness and pain in the head stupor.

Externally the pure oil of Valerian can be used for spinal rubs in diseases where the spinal cord needs lessened sensibility to pain and stimulation.

Other Uses:

Increases earthworms in the garden and tt has the ability to stir up and increase phosphorous activity in the soil around it Provides rich mineral content to compost.

REFERENCES

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18. Feytag WE. Bestimmung von Valerensäuren und Valerenal neben Valepotriaten in Valeriana officinalis durch HPLC. Pharmazeutische Zeitung, 1983, 128:2869 2871.

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