Page 133 - Pharmacognosy-II (06-PG 303)

Subterranean stems containing volatile oils

4. Valerian

• Botanical origin: it is the dried rhizome of Valeriana officinalis L.
(Valerianaceae).

• Yellowish-brown rhizomes, stolons and roots. The large rhizomes are
clothed with adventitious roots.

• The fresh drug is odourless, but it develops characteristic odour on drying.

Constituents:
• Epoxyiridoids (valepotriates): (major): valtrates, didrovaltrates and

isovaltrates
• Valepotriates are unstable => decompose on storage or processing =>

Baldrinal and homobaldrinal.
• Volatile oil: 0.5–2%. bornyl isovalerianate, bornyl acetate, bornyl formate

and the alcohols: borneol and valerianol
• Alkaloids: Pyridine type.
• Others: Amino acids (γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), caffeic and chlorogenic

acids
• Valeric acid
• ldrinal and homobaldrinal.

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