Contemporary Aspects of Using Valerianae Officinalis

Using plants in therapy originates from far past. The skill of treating with plants has been developed in all nations and is now preserved, more or less, as traditional or popular therapy, commonly named popular medicine. Valeriana officinalis, which has been successfully used in traditional therapy, is accepted and represents an important medicinal raw material in contemporary medicine. Considering that clinical effects are not due to single chemical component, numerous scientists have concluded that a combination of valerian ingredients is responsible for its action. Dried root and rhizoma of Valerianae officinalis in forms of different pharmaceutical formulations achieve antioxidative, cytoprotective and neuroprotective activity. Pharmaceutical preparations made of valeriana root and rhizoma have multiple role in treating disorders at the level of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. Acta Medica Medianae 2010;49(3): 65-70.