Studies on the cytological and biochemical effects of valerian in somatic and germ cells of Swiss albino mice

Valerian is widely known for its use as a sedative and an anti-anxiety drug in the folk medicine. Literature reports suggested valerian to induce genotoxicity in vitro (ECV304 cells) by reactive oxygen species-mediated mechanism; however, there are no reports on its genotoxicity and/or the epigenetic mechanism in vivo. In view of the folkloric significance, it was found worthwhile to (1) determine the genotoxic effects of valerian in somatic and germ cells of mice and (2) investigate the role of epigenetic mechanisms. The protocol included the oral treatment of mice with different doses (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg/day) of valerian for 7 days. The following experiments were conducted: (i) cytological studies on micronucleus test, (ii) cytogenetic analysis for meiotic chromosomes, (iii) cytological analysis of spermatozoa abnormalities, (iv) quantification of proteins and nucleic acids in testicular cells and (v) estimation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nonprotein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) in hepatic and testicular cells. The treatment increased the frequency of micronuclei in the polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) and decrease the ratio of PCE to normochromatic erythrocytes (NCE) in the femur. It caused aberrations in chromosomes of the testis and induced spermatozoa abnormalities. The concentration of nucleic acids was depleted in the testicular cells. These changes might be attributed to the epigenetic mechanisms as revealed by an increase in the concentrations of MDA and a decrease of NP-SH levels in hepatic and testicular cells observed in the present study. The observed changes may be ascribed to terpenoids (valepotriates) and flavonoids (6-methylapigenin and 2S(-)-hesperidin) present in valerian.

Management of insomnia: a place for traditional herbal remedies

(1) Insomnia should be treated first with non drug measures; this has traditionally involved the use of herbal remedies. (2) About 20 plants are approved in France in the production of medications 'traditionally used' for minor sleep disturbances. Virtually nothing is known of their efficacy or potential dangers. (3) Most of these plants are suspected of toxicity and should therefore be avoided, especially in view of their unproven efficacy. (4) Littleleaf linden, vervain, melissa and orange flower have no demonstrated efficacy but are safe and can therefore be used. Similarly, there are no scientific grounds for rejecting preparations based on hawthorn or passiflora. (5) Available data suggest that valerian extracts have a modest impact on subjective sleep quality; they are nevertheless more effective than a placebo. Valerian products that do not contain valepotriates have no apparent adverse effects. It is best to avoid high-titre alcoholic extracts and powdered valerian root, and to select aqueous extracts and low-titre hydro-alcoholic preparations.

Investigation of the effects of peppermint oil and valerian on rat liver and cultured human liver cells

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of peppermint oil and valerian on rat liver and cultured human hepatoma cells. 2. Rats received a single oral dose of peppermint oil (8.3-830 microL/kg) or valerian (0.31-18.6 g/kg), or daily oral doses of 83 microL/kg peppermint oil or 3.1 g/kg valerian for 28 days. After 24 h, rats were anaesthetized and measurements made of bile flow, liver function and in vivo sinusoidal area. Livers were then removed for histology. 3. Bile flow was unaffected by any treatment, except acute high-dose peppermint oil (830 microL/kg; 70% increase in flow). No change in liver enzyme activity was found, except for a 45% increase in alkaline phosphatase after chronic peppermint oil. No change in sinusoidal area in vivo or in histology was found following any treatment, although pretreatment with carbon tetrachloride reduced sinusoidal bed area and produced histological damage. Incubation of human hepatoma cells with 0.5 microL/mL (but not 0.05 microL/mL) peppermint oil or 20 mg/mL (but not 2 mg/mL) valerian resulted in increased cell death. 4. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated in vitro toxicity of high doses of valerian and peppermint oil in cultured human hepatoma cells and, at doses 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than those recommended for human use, an increase in rat bile flow after acute peppermint oil and an increase in alkaline phosphatase after chronic peppermint oil.

In vitro study on the genotoxicity of dichloromethane extracts of valerian (DEV) in human endothelial ECV304 cells and the effect of vitamins E and C in attenuating the DEV-induced DNA damages

To study the genotoxicity of valepotriates in vitro, the degree of DNA damage in human endothelial cell line ECV304 treated with 5-60 microg/mL of dichloromethane extracts of valerian (DEV) was analyzed by the Comet assay. No DNA damage was observed in ECV304 cells after culture for 48 h in the presence of 5,10, and 20 microg/mL of DEV. But a moderate degree of DNA damage was observed in the cells treated with 40 or 60 microg/mL of DEV. Quantitative analyses of DNA damage in the presence of antioxidants vitamin E (VE) and vitamin C (VC) were also carried out. The study revealed that both VE and VC exhibited a biphasic effect, reducing DEV-induced DNA damages at low concentrations but increasing them at high concentrations. We concluded that (1). the observed DNA damage in ECV304 cells induced by high concentrations of DEV was mainly through epigenetic mechanisms, i.e., reactive oxygen species mediated oxidative DNA damage (2). at the low doses, DEV did not appear to have any significant genotoxicity in ECV304 cells, and (3). VE and VC, at proper concentrations, can reduce or eliminate the adverse effects derived from high doses of DEV. This study should serve as scientific guidance for clinical therapy of valerian preparation.