Valerian Oil Research Articles

Enhancing Sleep Quality through Aromatherapy: Updating the Therapeutic Benefits of Essential Oils

This mini-review examines the effectiveness of essential oils, such as lavender, chamomile, and valerian, in enhancing sleep quality. Addressing the growing prevalence of sleep disorders, this review analyzes research from 2020 to 2023, sourced from databases like PubMed and ScienceDirect. Findings show a notable positive impact of these oils across various groups, including postmenopausal women and palliative care patients. Lavender oil is highlighted for improving sleep efficiency and reducing nighttime awakenings. Chamomile oil, recognized for its calming properties, shows promise in managing sleep issues linked to anxiety disorders, though its efficacy in treating primary insomnia needs more exploration. Valerian oil, known for its sedative effects, has been effective in enhancing sleep and reducing anxiety. These oils' benefits are attributed to their influence on the nervous system, including anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. The review points out the heterogeneity among studies and calls for more comprehensive research to understand these oils' mechanisms and identify the most effective types for sleep improvement. This research underscores the potential of essential oils as a natural, non-pharmacological option for treating sleep disorders, indicating a significant area for future investigation.

Valerian essential oil for treating insomnia via the serotonergic synapse pathway.

Valerian volatile oil can be used in the treatment of insomnia; however, the active components and mechanisms of action are currently unclear. Therefore, we used transcriptome sequencing and weight coefficient network pharmacology to predict the effective components and mechanism of action of valerian volatile oil in an insomnia model induced by intraperitoneal injection of para-Chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) in SD rats. Valerian essential oil was given orally for treatment and the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1 A (5-HT1AR), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and protein kinase A (PKA) in the hippocampus of rats in each group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that after treatment with valerian essential oil, insomnia rats showed significantly prolonged sleep duration and alleviated insomnia-induced tension and anxiety. Regarding the mechanism of action, we believe that caryophyllene in valerian essential oil upregulates the 5-HT1AR receptor to improve the activity or affinity of the central transmitter 5-HT, increase the release of 5-HT, couple 5-HT with a G protein coupled receptor, convert adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into cAMP (catalyzed by ADCY5), and then directly regulate the downstream pathway. Following pathway activation, we propose that the core gene protein kinase PKA activates the serotonergic synapse signal pathway to increase the expression of 5-HT and GABA, thus improving insomnia symptoms and alleviating anxiety. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of valerian volatile oil in health food.

Prenatal Hypoxia Impairs Olfactory Function in Postnatal Ontogeny in Rats.

Analysis of the age-related dynamics of olfactory behavior in the odor preference and food search testsshowed that all male Wistar rats, regardless of age, preferred valerian essential oil, whose components have the properties of pheromones in rodents, when given a selection of eight essential oils; young rats displayed better food-seeking results than adult and old animals. Acute prenatal hypoxia (PH) on E14 (7% O2 for 3 h) led to impairment of the valerian odor preference at all ages studied and to decreased productivity of food searches. Neurodegenerative processes were seen in the piriform cortex after PH, with reductions in the number of neurons and increases in glial elements. We have previously observed these changes in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus, but not in the olfactory bulbs. This suggests that PH-induced decreases in olfactory function in rats may result from impairments to the formation of the central elements of the analyzer during the first months of postnatal ontogeny.

Effect of Valerian Oil on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

Effect of Valerian Oil on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

Optimization of Extraction Process of Valeriana officinalis L. Root Essential Oil and Study on Its Anti-Free Radical Activity

Taking Valerianrhizome as raw material and the yield of volatile oil of Valerian as an index, the extraction process of valerian volatile oil was analyzed by microwave assisted steam distillation, and optimized by Box-Behnken response surface test. The effects of scavenging capacity of Li, DPPH and hydroxyl radicals on their antioxidant capacity were studied. The results showed that the optimal process conditions of microwave extraction of volatile oil of Valerian were 350W microwave power, extraction time 25min, liquid-to-material ratio 8.8mL: 1.0g, and the yield of volatile oil of Valerian extracted under this condition was 5.88%. Microwave-extracted volatile oil of Valerian has strong scavenging ability and high reducing power to DPPH free radicals and hydroxyl free radicals. Compared with steam distillation, it has obvious differences, which can provide reference for the development of antioxidant products of Valerian oil.

The Comparison of Acupressure and Valerian Oil Effect on Sleep Satisfaction, Heart Rate in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The Comparison of Acupressure and Valerian Oil Effect on Sleep Satisfaction, Heart Rate in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The Effects of Lavender, Valerian, and Oxazepam on Anxiety Among Hospitalized Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Background and Objectives: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) experience different levels of anxiety during their hospital stay. Untreated anxiety among these patients can increase the risk of further cardiac events. The current study aimed at comparing the effects of lavender, valerian, and oxazepam on anxiety among hospitalized patients with CAD. Methods: As a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial, the current study was conducted in 2016 on 120 patients with CAD hospitalized in the cardiac care unit (CCU) of Valiasr (PBUH) Hospital, Birjand, Iran. Patients were conveniently recruited and randomly allocated to 30-patient lavender, valerian, oxazepam, and placebo groups using the permuted-block randomization method. Patients in these groups orally received 80 mg of lavender essential oil, 400 mg of valerian essential oil, a 10-mg oxazepam tablet, and 5 mL of distilled water, respectively, 1 hour before bedtime in 3 consecutive nights. Data were collected before and after the intervention via a demographic questionnaire and the Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 21.0 based on descriptive statistics measures (such as mean, standard deviation, and frequency distributions) using inferential statistics (such as the Chi-square test, the paired-samples t test, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey range test). The level of significance was set to 0.05). However, the mean score of total anxiety significantly decreased in all groups, with the greatest decrease in the lavender group, followed by the valerian, oxazepam, and placebo groups (P < 0.05). The pretest-posttest mean differences of state anxiety were significantly greater in the valerian and the lavender groups than the oxazepam and the placebo groups. Moreover, the pretest-posttest mean difference of trait anxiety was significantly greater in the lavender group than the other groups. In addition, the pretest-posttest mean difference of total anxiety was significantly greater in the lavender group than the other groups and in the valerian group it was significantly greater than the oxazepam and the placebo groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Oral intake of lavender and valerian essential oils was as effective as oxazepam in alleviating anxiety among patients with coronary artery disease. Of course, the anxiolytic effects of lavender were stronger than those of valerian. These medicinal plants can be good substitutes for chemical anxiolytic medications. Of course, further studies are needed to produce more reliable evidence in this realm.

Effect of acupressure with valerian oil 2.5% on the quality and quantity of sleep in patients with acute coronary syndrome in a cardiac intensive care unit

The purpose of this three-group double-blind clinical trial study was to investigate the effect of acupressure (指壓 zhǐ yā) with valerian (纈草 xié cǎo) oil 2.5% on the quality and quantity of sleep in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a coronary intensive care unit (CCU). This study was conducted on 90 patients with ACS in Mazandaran Heart Center (Sari, Iran) during 2013. The patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Patients in the acupressure with valerian oil 2.5% group (i.e., valerian acupressure group) received bilateral acupoint (穴位 xué wèi) massage with two drops of valerian oil for 2 minutes for three nights; including every point this treatment lasted in total 18 minutes. Patients in the acupressure group received massage at the same points with the same technique but without valerian oil. Patients in the control group received massage at points that were 1–1.5 cm from the main points using the same technique and for the same length of time. The quality and quantity of the patients' sleep was measured by the St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire (SMHSQ). After the intervention, there was a significant difference between sleep quality and sleep quantity in the patients in the valerian acupressure group and the acupressure group, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Patients that received acupressure with valerian oil experienced improved sleep quality; however, this difference was not statistically significant in comparison to the acupressure only group. Acupressure at the ear spirit gate (神門 shén mén), hand Shenmen, glabella (印堂 yìn táng), Wind Pool (風池 fēng chí), and Gushing Spring (湧泉 yǒng quán) acupoints can have therapeutic effects and may improve the quality and quantity of sleep in patients with ACS. Using these techniques in combination with herbal medicines such valerian oil can have a greater impact on improving sleep and reducing waking during the night.

Fumigant toxicity of Oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) and valerian (Valeriana wallichii) essential oils and their components, including their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, against Japanese termites (Reticulitermes speratus).

This study investigated the fumigant toxicity of oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) and valerian (Valeriana wallichii) essential oils and their components against the Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus). The fumigant toxicity of oriental sweetgum and valerian oil differed significantly according to exposure time. Oriental sweetgum showed toxicity at short exposure times (2 days), and the toxicity of valerian oil was high 7 days after treatment. The main constituents of oriental sweetgum and valerian oils were tested individually for their fumigant toxicity against Japanese termites. Among the test compounds, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, 1-phenyl-1-ethanol, hydrocinnamyl alcohol, trans-cinnamyl aldehyde, trans-cinnamyl alcohol, cis-asarone, styrene, and cis-ocimene showed toxicity against Japanese termites 7 days after treatment. Hydrocinnamyl alcohol and trans-cinnamyl alcohol were found to be the major contributors to the fumigant antitermitic toxicity of oriental sweetgum oil. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity of two oils and their constituents was tested to determine their mode of action. Only cis-ocimene showed strong AChE inhibition activity with an IC50 value of 0.131 mg/mL. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential of these essential oils and their constituents as fumigants for termite control.

Evaluation of commercial essential oil samples on the growth of postharvest pathogen Monilinia fructicola (G. Winter) Honey

To assess the effect of several commercial essential oils samples Australian lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), oregano (Origanum vulgare), thyme oil (Thymus vulgaris), clove bud (Eugenia caryophyllata), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and Australian tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) on mycelium growth and spore germination of Monilinia fructicola. The effectiveness of lemon myrtle essential oil as a fumigant for the control of brown rot in nectarines was evaluated. Monilinia fructicola exhibited a different level of sensitivity to each tested essential oil with results suggesting that the essential oils provide excellent control of the pathogen with respect to mycelium growth and spore germination at very low concentrations, whereas for others higher concentrations are needed to reduce significant fungal growth. In vivo application of lemon myrtle essential oil effectively reduced the incidence of M. fructicola on noninoculated fruit. Fumigation of nectarines following inoculation did not reduce the incidence of brown rot in comparison with the inoculated control treatment. No evidence of phytotoxicity on the fruit was recorded. Lemon myrtle essential oil exhibited the strongest antifungal activity against M. fructicola, in vitro and to a lesser extent, under in vivo conditions. The results demonstrate that lemon myrtle essential oil, in particular, has potential as an antifungal agent to control M. fructicola.

Terpenoid Compositions and Antioxidant Activities of Two Indian Valerian Oils from the Khasi Hills of North-east India

The volatile constituents of Valeriana jatamansi Jones and V. hardwickii Wall. (Valerianaceae) collected from the Khasi Hills of north-east India were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-seven and twenty-one compounds were characterized and identified from V. jatamansi and V. hardwickii samples, representing 90.6% and 82.7% of the total oil, respectively. Sesquiterpenes were shown to be the main constituents in both the oil samples. Maaliol (26.1%), patchouli alcohol (9.3%) and a-gurjunene (8.7%) were the major components of V. jatamansi oil, whereas valeracetate (21.3%), methyl linoleate (14.1%), bornyl acetate (13.8%) and cuparene (7.1%) were the main constituents of V. hardwickii oil. Both Indian valerian essential oils were studied for their antioxidant activities using the free radical-scavanging activity (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. V. hardwickii oil exhibited a higher antioxidant capacity than V. jatamansi in both assays. For both the valerian oil samples, there was a concentration-dependent increase in free radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing capacity. Both valerian oils and their ingredients are potential sources of natural antioxidants.

Variation in the Composition of the Essential Oil of Commercial Valeriana officinalis L. Roots from Different Countries

The volatile constituents from roots of Valeriana officinalis L. were investigated using GC and GC/MS methods. Valerianae radix samples were obtained from retail pharmacies of different European countries. The roots of 15 V. offcinalis samples yielded 0.19–1.16% essential oil on a dry weight basis. The basic oil components among the identified 86 compounds were bornyl acetate (2.9–33.7%), α-fenchene (0–28.3%), valerianol (0.2–18.2%), valerenal (tr-15.6%), isovaleric acid (0–13.1%), camphene (0–11.1%) and valeranone (0.5–10.9%). Bornyl acetate/valerenal chemotype was characteristic for 9 of the 15 samples of valerian roots from different European countries. Some samples did not contain α-fenchene and camphene (Germany, Czech), isovaleric acid (France, Moldova, Russia 2) and valerianic acid (Estonia, Ukraine 1, Scotland, Moldova, Russia 1). Valerian root oil from Estonia was rich in essential oil, bornyl acetate (33.7%), valerianol (16.8%) and valeranone (9.5%).

Variation in the composition of the essential oil of Valeriana officinalis L. roots from Estonia; 67–74

The volatile constituents from roots of Valeriana officinalis L. were investigated using GC and GC/MS methods. Valerianae radix samples were obtained from retail pharmacies or cultivated in Estonia. The roots of five V. officinalis samples yielded 0.28-1.16% essential oil in the cut drug, which usually corresponded (four samples) to the European Pharmacopeia standard (0.3%). The basic oil components among the identified 84 compounds were isovaleric acid (0-2.1%), -pinene (0.4-3.6%), -fenchene (0.6-5.8%), camphene (0.6-5.9%), bornyl acetate (8.8-33.7%), myrtenyl acetate (2.0-7.2%), alloaromadendrene (0.3-7.6%), myrtenyl isovalerate (1.1-2.5%), spathulenol (0.7-4.1%), sesquiterpen e alcohol (0.8-6.6%), valerianol (0.3-16.7%), valeranone (0.5-9.4%), and valerenal (tr-14.7%). Valerian root oil from Estonia (four samples) was rich in bornyl acetate and valerenal. Bornyl acetate, valerianol, and valera none dominated in one Estonian sample.

Influence of Drying and Distilling Procedures on the Chemical Composition of Valerian Oil (Valeriana officinalis L.)

The chemical composition of essential oils obtained from fresh and dried roots of Valeriana officinalis L. (Valerianaceae) was analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS using two columns of different polarities, polyethylene glycol (DB-Wax) and 5% phenyl 95% polydimethylsiloxane (HP-5). Sixty-one components were characterized comprising 78.7% and 76.2% of the oil composition, respectively. The major oxygenated sesquiterpenes identified possessed structures based on valerenic acid skeleton, valerenal being the most representative. The oil composition significantly varied due to drying procedure. Dried roots contained high amount of free isovaleric acid (13.0%) in comparison to fresh roots (0.2%) which may be due to enzymatic hydrolysis of isovaleric esters upon drying. Higher contents of borneol and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were also found in dried root oil. Dried roots were also steam distilled and three oil fractions were collected in equal time periods during the steam distillation. It was possible to modify the content of target components such as oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Their content was 8-fold higher in the last fraction.

The Essential Oil of Valeriana officinalis L. s.l. Growing Wild in Western Serbia

The oil obtained by hydrodistillation from underground parts of Valeriana officinalis L. s.l., growing wild on Tara Mountain (western Serbia), was analyzed by means of GC/MS. Fifty-three components, representing 90.7% of the oil, were identified. The main characteristic of this valerian essential oil was the presence of valerianol (57.3%) and bornyl acetate (11.3%).

Essential oil of Valeriana officinalis L. cultivars and their antimicrobial activity as influenced by harvesting time under commercial organic cultivation.

The essential oil content and the composition of subterranean parts of two valerian (Valeriana officinalis, L.) cultivars Select and Anthose, from certified commercial organic fields, were determined by hydrodistillation, followed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry analysis. Eight and fourteen month old cv. Select had 0.67 and 0.87% essential oil, while similar aged cv. Anthose contained 0.97 and 1.1% essential oil. Forty-three and fifty-three components from cv. Select and cv. Anthose oils were detected, respectively. The oil composition significantly varied due to the cultivar type, plant age, and/or harvesting time. The major components for cv. Select were valerenal, bornyl acetate, 15-acetoxy valeranone, valerenic acid, and camphene, while cv. Anthose had valerenal, (-)-bornyl acetate, alpha-humulene, camphene, 15-acetoxy valeranone, and valerenic acid. With further aging of the plants, the valerenal, valerenic acid, and alpha-humulene contents increased. The oil of cv. Select had a strong antimicrobial effect against Aspergillus niger, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, while cv. Anthose showed low or no activity against all test microbes, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, suggesting that the inhibitory activity of valerian oil depends on the cultivar and its developmental stage. The oil profile of our cultivars did not match the literature proposed chemotype profiles.

Effects of Valerian Oil Inhalation on Latex Allergy

Effects of Valerian Oil Inhalation on Latex Allergy

Mitigation of stress-induced suppression of contact hypersensitivity by odorant inhalation.

Various skin functions are affected by stress. We have previously shown that odorant inhalation can regulate skin immune reactions. To test the hypothesis that certain odorants can mitigate the effects of stress on skin immune reactions. Contact hypersensitivity (CH) reactions were elicited in C57BL/6 mice. Mice were subjected to immobilization stress and were exposed to odorants for 2 days. Epidermal sheets were stained for I-A antigens and analysed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Serum corticosterone levels were assayed by radioimmunoassay. Exposure of mice to 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene (DMMB) had no effect on the intact CH reaction, but it upregulated the reaction suppressed by immobilization stress. Other odorants, including terpinyl acetate and valerian oil, had minor effects on the CH reaction. Suppression of I-A-positive cells was prevented by DMMB inhalation. Valerian oil, but not DMMB, downregulated stress-induced plasma corticosterone levels. Results suggest that odorant inhalation modulates various physiological pathways, some of which result in regulation of skin function.