Valerian (herb) Valerian (herb) Valerian ("Valeriana officinalis", Caprifoliaceae) is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. In the summer when the mature plant may have a height of , it bears sweetly scented pink or white flowers that attract many fly species, especially hoverflies of the genus "Eristalis". It is consumed as food by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species, including the grey pug. Crude extract of valerian root may have sedative and anxiolytic effects, and is commonly sold in dietary supplement capsules to promote sleep. Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least
Valerenic acid study mentioned that such inhibition may be connected to the reported anti-inflammatory action of the valerian plant. Valerenic acid Valerenic acid is a sesquiterpenoid constituent of the essential oil of the Valerian plant. Valerian is used as a herbal sedative which may be helpful in the treatment of insomnia. It is likely that several components of the plant contribute to the effect. Valerenic acid is thought to be at least partly responsible for the sedative effects. Valerenic acid acts as a subtype-selective GABA receptor positive allosteric modulator via a binding site in the transmembrane domain at the βα interface. At