title: The anxiolytic effects of a Valerian extract is based on valerenic acid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Valerian is commonly used for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety. Valerian extracts allosterically modulate GABA-A receptors and induced an anxiolytic activity. This activity is closely related to valerenic acid. In the present experiments it was investigated whether acetoxy valerenic acid may interfere with the anxiolytic action of valerenic acid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Situational anxiety was measured using male CD-1 mice in the elevated plus maze test after oral administration of the test substances. In addition the body core temperature was measured. For the 3H-GABA binding assay dissected tissue from frontal cortex of male RjHan:WI rats were used. Statistical evaluation was performed by means of the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallies H-test, followed by the two-tailed Mann-Whitney U-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adding of acetoxy valerenic acid abolished the anxiolytic action of valerenic acid. There was no effect on body core temperature. Moreover, the valerian extract did not show any affinity to benzodiazepine binding sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The determining compound for the observed anxiolytic effect of the valerian extract is its content of valerenic acid.
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Becker
authors: Falko
authors: F
authors: Felgentreff
authors: Helmut
authors: H
authors: Schröder
authors: Beat
authors: B
authors: Meier
authors: Alexander Puschkin Str, 50, 39108 Magdeburg, Germany. Axel.Brattstroem@t-online.de.
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Brattström
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007192:Indenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014632:Valerian / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D007192:Indenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C037133:valerenic acid