Valeriana officinalis L. (Valerian)

Extracts from the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana officinalis L. have a long, cross-cultural tradition of medicinal usage, mainly as mild sedatives and anxiolytics, but they also demonstrate spasmolytic properties. The effects of valerian may be attributable to a number of potentially active constituents, including mono-terpenes and sesquiterpenes, including the genus-specific valepotriates and valerenic acid. Root extracts also contain appreciable levels of GABA, constituents which bind to a variety of neurotransmitter receptors including GABA_A, where they perform as an allosteric modulator of subunit specific GABA_A channels, adenosine A1 receptors where they also exert a range of allosteric effects, and act on the 5HT_1A and the 5-HT_5A receptors, which are implicated in circadian rhythms and anxiety.

Research in humans has tended to concentrate on the role of valerian in attenuating sleep disturbance. Stevinson and Ernst (2000) reviewed the 19 randomised, controlled trials that assessed its effects on sleep and insomnia, and concluded from the nine that reached their inclusion criteria, that the efficacy of valerian in this respect was ‘promising but not fully conclusive’.

Similarly, a systematic review of randomised, controlled trials of valerian for improving sleep quality included 16 eligible studies. However, it was noted that the majority of studies had some methodological problems. Allowing for the possibility of a publication bias, the authors concluded that the evidence to date only ‘suggested’ that valerian improved sleep quality.

Valerian has also been reported to have a similar effect to benzodiazepines, with similar positive effects from 6 weeks’ administration of 600 mg/day of valerian extract to those produced by 10 mg/day of oxazepam on sleep quality and waking symptoms in 202 non-organic insomnia outpatients. Additionally a number of studies have reported a benefit to sleep following a valerian/hops combination.

It is also interesting to note that, whereas no effect of valerian on psychomotor performance, alertness or concentration has been reported the morning after administration, acute doses of valerian led to a significant deterioration in performance in vigilance and information-processing tasks 1-2 h after acute daytime administration. Valerian is also often indicated for anxiety, but a recent Cochrane review concluded that there was insufficient evidence of efficacy in this since only one pilot study was found to be eligible for inclusion according to their criteria. Taibi et al. (2007) interpret the literature as failing to show any convincing pattern of behavioural effects but Valeriana officinalis extracts are associated with markedly less negative side-effects than benzodiazepines, with levels similar to placebo across clinical trials.

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