Valerian (herb) nervous system depression, they should not be used with other depressants, such as ethanol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, opiates, kava, or antihistamine drugs. Moreover, non-pregnant adult human hepatotoxicity has been associated with short-term use (i.e., a few days to several months) of herbal preparations containing valerian and "Scutellaria" (commonly called skullcap). As an unregulated product, the concentration, contents, and potential contaminants in valerian preparations cannot be easily determined. Because of this uncertainty and the potential for toxicity in the fetus and hepatotoxicity in the mother, valerian use is discouraged during pregnancy. Valerian root is a cat attractant in a way similar to
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