Valeriana officinalis

Valeriana officinalis

(folk herbs of Science)

[synonym] chuanxinpaicao (physical knowledge), Luzi grass, Gansong (botanical Dictionary), maoshicai (Xinjiang herbal medicine), manshanxiang, xiaojiujia, dajiujia, Qilixiang, badima, zhudihu (Shaanxi herbal medicine), vanilla, spider (Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningqing herbal medicine).

[source] it is the root and rhizome of Valeriana officinalis.

Valeriana officinalis

Perennial herbs, 100-150 cm high. Stem erect, longitudinally striated, with spindle rhizome or many slender fibrous roots. Basal leaves clumped, long ovate, odd pinnate, compound or irregularly deeply lobed, leaflets 9-15, apical lobes larger, entire or a few serrated, petioles long, base sheath shaped; cauline leaves opposite, sessile, holding stem, odd pinnate, lobes 4-10 on each side, lanceolate, entire or irregularly coarse toothed; upward leaves gradually smaller. Corymb terminal, arranged neatly; flowers small, white or purplish red; bracteoles ovate lanceolate, ciliate; calyx degenerate; corolla tubular, ca. 5 mm long, 5-lobed, lobes oblong; stamens 3, slightly longer than corolla tube; ovary inferior, oblong. Capsule smooth, with 1 seed. The flowering period is from June to July. The fruit period is from July to August.

It is suitable for acid and fertile soil. It is distributed in Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Taiwan, Hubei and other places.

In addition, there are northeast valerian (northeast), native daughter-in-law dishes; Maojie valerian (northeast); Heishui valerian (northeast); Southwest valerian (Sichuan, Guangxi) are also used for medicine.

[collection] from September to October, the stems, leaves and soil were removed and dried in the sun.

[herbal medicine] the rhizome is blunt cone-shaped, yellowish brown or dark brown, 2-5cm long and 1-3cm thick, with stem base or leaf mark at the upper end, and numerous slender adventitious roots densely growing around. The root is 20 cm long, about 2 mm thick, yellowish brown to grayish brown in appearance, with longitudinal wrinkles and very fine branched roots. Easy to break, yellow white section, horny. It has a peculiar odor, which is sweet first and then slightly bitter and spicy. It is better to have thick and long fibrous roots, neat, yellowish brown outside, yellowish white cross section and strong smell.

[chemical constituents] the root contains 0.5-2% volatile oil, the main component is Bornyl isovalerate, borneol, l-camphene, α - pinene, d-terpineol, l-limonene, pyrrolyl - α - methylketone, α - fenonene and myrcene. Caryophyllene, l-caryophyllene, γ - Terpinene, isoterpinene, jasmenolene, allocitonene, solanesene, γ - caryophyllene, valerianol, hesperic acid, valerianic acid, kaempferic acid, valerianolic acid, isovaleric acid, valerone, valerenal, terpineol, bornyl acetate, l-myrtle alcohol, Myrtle acetate, Myrtle isovalerate, β - Sinomenine The results showed that the content of α - curcumene, α - curcumene, trumpet alcohol, etc. It also contains valine, maneoline, valerian alkaloid a, valerian alkaloid B, kiwifruit alkaloid, valerian alkaloid, etc. It also contains valerian triester, isovaleroyloxy dihydrovalerian triester, valerian cyclic malonyl ester glycoside, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, tannin, resin, β - sitosterol, etc.

[pharmacological action] ① effect on nervous system

Valerian has sedative effect, can strengthen the inhibition process of cerebral cortex, reduce reflex excitability, relieve smooth muscle spasm. It can be combined with bromine for various nerve excited states, cardiovascular neurosis, hyperthyroidism, etc., and has sedative effect on frogs, mice, rabbits, etc.; a group of valerian triacylates isolated from Valeriana officinalis has sedative effect on mice, and has the ability to improve their coordinated action, and also shows some sedative effect on free moving cats, making them excited and aggressive The reactivity to the outside world is not affected. Valerian itself does not cause sleep in animals, but it can enhance the sleep effect of barbital and inhibit the general activities of animals. It is reported that its extract has only general sedative effect and only slight effect on conditioned reflex when it is orally or intraperitoneally injected into mice (40 mg / 20 g body weight), so it is considered to be non-specific. It has also been proved by chronometer that intraperitoneal injection of valerian extract can inhibit the effect of ethanol, which is different from bromide, morphine and chloral hydrate. The root extract can increase the threshold of electrical stimulation on the arousal wave in the frontal cortex caused by electrical stimulation of the midbrain reticular formation and the central gray matter. It has inhibitory effect on convulsion induced by strychnine in mice and can be used as a bioassay method. The extract or tincture (evaporated ethanol) injected subcutaneously into guinea pigs can raise body temperature, but it can also enhance antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect of antipyretic effect. Isovaleric acid (α - allyl isovaleric acid) has analgesic effect. Valerian is not one of the effective components of nervous system, mainly ether oil and alkaloids. Some people think that alcohol extract is the most effective, while fresh juice and volatile oil are less effective.

② Effect on circulation and respiration

Some components of Valeriana officinalis can reduce blood pressure in animals (dogs, cats, rabbits and mice), which is related to its parasympathetic effect, blocking carotid sinus reflex and inhibiting central nervous system. In the isolated frog heart, it can inhibit the systolic effect of cardiac glycoside, but it can't antagonize the arrhythmia caused by aconitine. It can stimulate the respiration when injected into the vein or rectum of cat or rabbit in appropriate dose, but it has no exciting effect when deeply anesthetized with chloral hydrate. It can also inhibit the respiration of normal animals in large dose. Valerian root extract, strychnine and amphetamine can stimulate the binocular antagonism test, while barbital and diazepam can inhibit it.

③ Antibacterial action

The total alkaloids from Valeriana officinalis have antibacterial activity, especially for Gram-positive bacteria. Two alkaloids, valine and maneoline, which were isolated from them, also had effects, but their effects were low.

④ Other functions

It has some antidiuretic effects. The infusion can accelerate the process of hemagglutination in vivo, but has no effect in vitro. The extract can inhibit the small intestine in vitro, but it can stimulate the small intestine in large dose, which can be blocked by atropine. It has no effect on pituitary adrenal system. Some components which can relieve the spasm of smooth muscle can be separated from roots by column chromatography. It has a certain protective effect on carbon tetrachloride induced liver necrosis in rabbits. The toxicity of valerian oil was quite low. The ratio of LD50 to tolerable dose was 7.0, which was much lower than that of mustard oil.

[nature and taste] 1. Sichuan records of traditional Chinese medicine: "the taste is hard, the nature is warm, and there is slight toxicity. "

② "Xinjiang Chinese herbal medicine manual": "the taste is pungent and slightly sweet, the nature is warm and non-toxic. "

[Guijing] records of Sichuan Traditional Chinese medicine: "entering the heart and liver meridians. "

[function indications] Qia is restless, weak stomach, low back pain, irregular menstruation and traumatic injury.

① "Folk medicine of science": "used for neurasthenia and restlessness. "

② "Shandong traditional Chinese medicine": "treat women with amenorrhea, menstrual difficulties. "

③ "Sichuan Traditional Chinese medicine annals": "treatment of brain and heart, stomach weakness, chronic neurological disorders and diabetes insipidus. "

④ "Treatment of palpitation and low back pain. "

⑤ Shaanxi Chinese herbal medicine: "tranquilizing, dispelling wind, relieving spasm, promoting muscle, stopping bleeding, relieving pain. For hysteria, Keshan disease, heart disease (myocarditis, postpartum heart disease, rheumatic heart disease with heart failure), lumbago and leg pain, gastrointestinal spasm, arthritis, traumatic injury, traumatic bleeding. "

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoct soup, 1-1.5 yuan; grind powder or soak wine.

[taboo] Sichuan Traditional Chinese medicine annals: "the weak with Yin deficiency should be used with caution. "

[selection] 1. Treatment of neurasthenia and neuropathy: Valeriana officinalis and Schisandra chinensis. Fried or dipped in wine. (records of Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine)

② Treatment of low back pain, leg pain, abdominal pain, traumatic injury, palpitation, neurasthenia: valerian money. Grind it into fine powder, take it with water, or add it with children's stool. (Xinjiang Chinese herbal medicine manual)

③ Treatment of neurosis: valerian one or two, Schisandra three money, Albizia skin three money, wine half Jin, soak for seven days, take 10 ml each time, three times a day. (Xinjiang Chinese herbal medicine manual)

Chinese PinYin : Xie Cao