title: Initial exploratory observational pharmacology of Valeriana wallichii on stress management: a clinical report.
abstract: Valeriana wallichii, an Indian medicinal plant, has been on trial for its role in stress disorders in hospital based clinical set-up. Hamilton's Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was used and thorough clinical investigations were carried out to screen the subjects. Thirty-three subjects (20 male and 13 female; average age 34.2 years) were medicated with the plant extract in a fixed dose regime (500 mg/capsule, twice daily, p.o. after meal). They were thoroughly investigated clinically and using standard questionnaires based on different psychological rating scale at baseline (day 0), mid-term (day 30) and final (day 60). The observations exhibited that, V wallichii not only significantly (p < 0.001) attenuated stress and anxiety, but also significantly (p < 0.001) improved depression and also enhanced the willingness to adjustment. Nevertheless it did not alter memory, concentration or attention of the volunteers. The results suggest that V wallichii may be useful in the treatment of stress related disorders in human and may be a promising anti-stress agent in near future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Dipankar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.forename: Utpalendu
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jana
authors.forename: Pratip Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Debnath
authors.forename: Tapas Kumar
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Sur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014632:Valerian
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations