Valerian: Valeriana officinalis, Valerianaceae family; perennial herbaceous plant widely distributed in Europe and Asia, characterized by a rhizomatous underground system densely wrapped in roots. From valerian, by distillation, a very low yield is obtained of an essential oil rich in mono and sesquiterpenes, but above all in specific iridoids, called valepotriates (mainly valtrate).
The health properties of valerian are not to be attributed exclusively to the valepotriati; on the contrary, valeric acid, together with valeranone and valerenal, has shown important depressive and / or spasmolytic properties on the CNS. Valerian, therefore, is exploited in herbal medicine for these sedative properties.
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