Valerian (herb) some affinity for the GABA receptor, a class of receptors on which benzodiazepines are known to act. Valeric acid, which is responsible for the typical odor of mostly older valerian roots, does not have any sedative properties. Valeric acid is related to valproic acid, a widely prescribed anticonvulsant; valproic acid is a derivative of valeric acid. Valerian also contains isovaltrate, which has been shown to be an inverse agonist for adenosine A receptor sites. This action likely does not contribute to the herb's possible sedative effects, which would be expected from an agonist, rather than an inverse agonist, at this
Valerian A. Frolov Valerian A. Frolov Valerian Aleksandrovich Frolov (; June 7 (O.S. May 26), 1895 – 1961) was a Soviet Colonel General (1943). Frolov participated in the First World War, the Russian Civil War, and the Soviet-Finnish war as an Army commander, and during the Second World War as the commander of the 14th Army, and from September 1941 to February 1944, the Karelian Front. After the war from 1945 to 1956 commanded the troops of Belomorsky Military District and Arkhangelsk Military District. From 1956 he was placed in reserve. Valerian Frolov was awarded three Orders of Lenin, four Orders of the