Valepotriate

Effect of valepotriates (valerian extract) in generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot study.[Pubmed:12410546]

Phytother Res. 2002 Nov;16(7):650-4.

The aim of the present study was to carry out a controlled pilot study on the putative anxiolytic effect of Valepotriates. Thirty-six outpatients with generalized anxiety disorder (DSM III-R), after a 2-week wash-out, were randomized to one of the following three treatments for 4 weeks (n = 12 per group): Valepotriates (mean daily dose: 81.3 mg), diazepam (mean daily dose: 6.5 mg), or placebo. A parallel, double-blind, flexible-dose, placebo-controlled design was employed. No significant difference was observed among the three groups at baseline or in the change from baseline on the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A) or in the trait part of the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-trait). Moreover, the three groups presented a significant reduction in the total HAM-A scores. On the other hand, only the diazepam and Valepotriates groups showed a significant reduction in the psychic factor of HAM-A. The diazepam group also presented a significant reduction of the STAI-trait. Although the principal analysis (HAM-A between group comparison) found negative results (probably due to the small sample size in each group), the preliminary data obtained in the present study suggest that the Valepotriates may have a potential anxiolytic effect on the psychic symptoms of anxiety. However, since the number of subjects per group was very small, the present results must be viewed as preliminary. Thus, further studies addressing this issue are warranted.

A Valepotriate Fraction of Valeriana glechomifolia Shows Sedative and Anxiolytic Properties and Impairs Recognition But Not Aversive Memory in Mice.[Pubmed:20047889]

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:720853.

Plants of the genus Valeriana (Valerianaceae) are used in traditional medicine as a mild sedative, antispasmodic and tranquilizer in many countries. This study was undertaken to explore the neurobehavioral effects of systemic administration of a Valepotriate extract fraction of known quantitative composition of Valeriana glechomifolia (endemic of southern Brazil) in mice. Adult animals were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of Valepotriate fraction (VF) in the concentrations of 1, 3 or 10 mg kg(-1), or with vehicle in the pre-training period before each behavioral test. During the exploration of an open field, mice treated with 10 mg kg(-1) of VF showed reduced locomotion and exploratory behavior. Although overall habituation sessions for locomotion and exploratory behavior among vehicle control and doses of VF were not affected, comparison between open-field and habituation sessions within each treatment showed that VF administration at 1 and 10 mg kg(-1) impaired habituation. In the elevated plus-maze test, mice treated with VF (10 mg kg(-1)) showed a significant increase in the percentage of time spent in the open arms without significant effects in the number of total arm entries. VF at 3 mg kg(-1) produced an impairment of novel-object recognition memory. In contrast, VF did not affect fear-related memory assessed in an inhibitory avoidance task. The results indicate that VF can have sedative effects and affect behavioral parameters related to recognition memory.

Valepotriate content in different in vitro cultures of Valerianaceae and characterization of Valeriana officinalis L. callus during a growth period.[Pubmed:6646985]

Pharm Weekbl Sci. 1983 Oct 21;5(5):205-9.

Different in vitro cultures of Valerianaceae were analysed for Valepotriate content [(iso)valtrate, acevaltrate, didrovaltrate] in a study on properties of production in vitro (plant species, growth conditions, differentiation level, Valepotriate content of the medium after growth). The in vitro cultures were: callus cultures of Valeriana officinalis L., Valerianella locusta L. and Centranthus ruber L.DC.; a suspension culture of Valeriana officinalis L. and a root organ culture of Centranthus ruber L.DC. All of the cultures produced Valepotriates in vitro in different amounts. None of the media that had served for growth contained any Valepotriates. In order to characterize the in vitro growth more precisely different parameters were analysed at different time intervals during a growth period in one of the cultures (callus culture of Valeriana officinalis L.). These different parameters were: fresh and dry weight, lipid and nitrogen content and (iso)valtrate content. This study during a growth period was performed on two media differing in plant hormone content.

Valepotriate production of normal and colchicine-treated cell suspension cultures of Valeriana wallichii.[Pubmed:4009183]

J Nat Prod. 1985 Jan-Feb;48(1):17-21.

Colchicine-treated suspension cultures of Valeriana wallichii produce higher amounts of Valepotriates than did the respective untreated cultures. The ability to produce Valepotriates in the treated culture remains in the absence of colchicine even if the chromosome status returns to normal. When the colchicine treatment is repeated, a further increase in Valepotriate production can be obtained. Besides known Valepotriates, a series of fourteen new compounds, hitherto not described for the parent plant, were isolated from the cell suspension culture. Eight of them are also found in plant parts in minor amounts, but six seem to be present only in tissue cultures of V. wallichii.