Some similarities to : Hemp Agrimony and to Red Valerian.

ANY TEXT GOES HERE

One of the 20 proteogenic amino acids, ^L-Valine, is named after Valerian.

The flowers of Common Valerian smell of vanilla, but do not necessarily contain vanillin, the principle odourous compound of vanilla pods. The root of the plant has also been used historically as a herbal sedative or hypnotic due to the presence of valepotriate compounds (see below).

Common Valerian contains valeric acid, or N-pentanoic acid, which has an un-pleasant odour. In small quantities, valeric acid is used in some perfumes, and hence valerian used to be harvested for the perfume industry. Two laboratory synthesized esters of Valeric Acid, Ethyl Valerate and Pentyl Valerate, taste of apples and in the latter example also of pineapple, and are used as food additives. Valeric acid is claimed able to treat acne, although no peer reviewed trials have been done. Despite, or perhaps because Valerian grows near water, Valeric Acid is poisonous to aquatic life. Common Valerian also contains Valproic Acid (2-propyl valeric acid), which is similar to Valeric Acid but possesses an additional 3-carbon aliphatic chain. It too finds pharmacological uses: for treating bipolar disorder and as an anti-convulsant in treating migraine and epilepsy. It affects the neurotransmiter GABA and is used as a substitute for lithium salts in the treatment of manic-depression (bipolar disorder). Valeproic Acid may also find a use on the battlefield. Injured soldiers can go into shock after losing a lot of blood. Around 7 percent of our genes change thir expression in response to loss of blood by the removal of 'epigenetic' acetylations of the genome. This deacetylation changes the way the genes work, resulting in the automatic raising of blood pressure, increasing the heart rate and conserving energy, which is called 'shock'. However, shock is dangerous if it persists for any length of time, and can lead to organ failure and death soon after. To try and prevent this shock response, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDAC) can be administered which would prevent the removal of acetylations from the genome. Valproic Acid is one such promising HDAC, administration of which should save the injured from going into shock, and thus surviving long enough to reach hospital.

Actinidine is a pyridine alkaloid which is present in the roots of common Valerian, and also present in oil of valerian, a herbal extract of the plant. Actinidine is a pheromone for some insects and has a similar intoxicating effect on cats as nepetalactone which is present in Catmint (Catnip).

Nepetalactone, not present in Common Valerian but present in Catnip, is a bicyclic terpenoid that is chemically related to the valopotriates. By smell alone it has a profound effect on 75% of cats; it drives them half crazy with excitement. The other 25% are indifferent to this odour, as are the Authors cats.

Common Valerian yields the iridoid alkaloids classed as valepotriates, pharmaceutical drugs used as sedatives. Amongst them is valtratum. [Valium, or diazepam (a benzodiazepine), although similar in name as well as being a sedative, is totally synthetic, does not occur naturally and is quite un-related chemically to the valepotriates].

Common Valerian is one of very few vascular plants that are capable of converting the inorganic chloride ion into organic chlorine. Others are Yellow Star Thistle, Potato plants and many in the the Pea Family of plants. Two chlorinated iridoids have been found in Common Valerian, Valechlorine and Valeridine.