Title:A Review on History, Chemical Constituents, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological
Activities, and Recent Patents of Valerian
Volume: 14
Issue: 2
Author(s): Pankaj Malhotra, Neha Minocha, Parijat Pandey, Dhirender Kaushik and Neelam Vashist*
Affiliation:
- Department of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gurugram University, Gurugram, 122018, India
Keywords:
Valerian, anxiolytic, sedative, chemical constituents, heart palpitations, Caprifoliaceae family.
Abstract:
Background: Valerian officinalis is a variant of herbaceous flowering plants in the
Caprifoliaceae family, members of which can be generally called valerians. Valerian is derived from
Valerius, the Latin term “valere”, which means health or well-being. It is used as a sedative and
anxiolytic in many countries. The beneficial effects of valerian have always been controversial due to
inconsistent clinical trial results. Valerian contains more than 150 chemical constituents. Valerian exhibits
sedative, anxiolytic, and antispasmodic activities, and is used to treat various diseases.
Objective: The main aim of this study was to gather knowledge on this herbal plant, its chemical
constituents, and how they can be used to treat the most common diseases, such as depression, anxiety,
headache, insomnia, etc.
Result: Studies show that valerian is used to treat cardiac arrhythmia, sleep disorders, depression, and
headaches, as this plant possesses sedative, anxiolytic, and antispasmodic activities.
Conclusion: This review has explored the different types of studies conducted on valerian, and with their
help, we can learn more about its activities and medicinal uses. Additionally, this review paper includes
the recent patents on this herbal plant.