Spices & Medicinal herbs

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valerian officinalis

(Common name:- Valerian)

Classification

• Kingdom- Plantae
• (Unranked)- Angiosperms
• (Unranked)- Eudicots
• (Unranked)- Asterids
• Order- Dipsacales
• Family- Valerianaceae
• Genus- Valerian
• Species- V. officinalis

History

Valerian is small shrub distributed in Europe, parts of Asia and North America. The plant is used as invasive healer of ailments in ancient times.

Valerian belongs to the genus valerian which comprises of 150 species distributed throughout Europe and northern Asia.

By the end of 18 century the extracts of valerian were popularly used in Europe and United States among physicians and common people. But later it was became prescribed drug.

Plant Description

Valerian is hardy perennial that grows to a height of 2 to 4 feet. The leaves are close to the ground arranged in pairs.

The leaves are composed of series of lance shaped segment and the leaflets are numerous, broad usually 2-3 inches long.

The tuberous rootstocks are yellow-brown bearing angular, hollow and furrowed slender stem.

The branches are horizontal and produce fresh plants from the buds.

Cultivation

Valerian is indigenous to Britain and cultivated throughout the Europe and parts of Asia.

It is found near moist land, banks and borders of rivers and ditches.

It grows best in rich, moist and loamy soils but could be thrive in ordinary soil also.

Parts Used

Roots and rhizomes.

Constituents

The key constituents of valerian are Alkaloids: actinidine, catinine, valerianine, and valerine, Isovaleramide, Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), Valeric acid, Valepotriates, acevaltrate, isovaltrate and valtrate, volatile oil like sesquiterpenes (acetoxyvalerenic acid, valerenic acid), Flavanones such as hesperidin, 6-methylapigenin and linarin.

Uses

Valerian is used to prepare a potent medicine for the disorders like insomnia, sleeping disorders, anxiety and restlessness.

In some parts of world valerian is being sold as nutritional supplement and also used in therapeutic uses.

Traditional use of valerian had been to treat irritable bowel syndrome.

It is been said as effective sedative drug which is recommended for insomnia, epilepsy and headaches.

Names

• Blessed Herb
• Capon's Tail
• Garden Heliotrope
• German Valerian
• Great Wild Valerian
• Setwall
• Tagara
• Valerian
• Vandalroot
• Vermont Valerian