Effect of valepotriates (valerian extract) in generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized placebo‐controlled pilot study

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to carry out a controlled pilot study on the putative anxiolytic effect of valepotriates. Thirty-six outpatients with generalized anxiety disorder (DSM III-R), after a 2-week wash-out, were randomized to one of the following three treatments for 4 weeks (n = 12 per group): valepotriates (mean daily dose: 81.3 mg), diazepam (mean daily dose: 6.5 mg), or placebo. A parallel, double-blind, flexible-dose, placebo-controlled design was employed. No significant difference was observed among the three groups at baseline or in the change from baseline on the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A) or in the trait part of the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-trait). Moreover, the three groups presented a significant reduction in the total HAM-A scores. On the other hand, only the diazepam and valepotriates groups showed a significant reduction in the psychic factor of HAM-A. The diazepam group also presented a significant reduction of the STAI-trait. Although the principal analysis (HAM-A between group comparison) found negative results (probably due to the small sample size in each group), the preliminary data obtained in the present study suggest that the valepotriates may have a potential anxiolytic effect on the psychic symptoms of anxiety. However, since the number of subjects per group was very small, the present results must be viewed as preliminary. Thus, further studies addressing this issue are warranted.

Efeito ansiolítico e sedativo do extrato combinado de <em>Passiflora alata</em> Dryander e <em>Valeriana officinalis</em> L. em ratos

“…Some antidepressant drugs which act on serotoninergic transmission are also effective anxiolytic agents (Ballenger, 1993;Argyropoulos et al, 2000). However, the effectiveness in treating anxiety disorders of the different anti-depressant drugs has been observed only after chronic administration (Teixeira et al, 2000;Poltronieri et al, 2003).…”

“…Clinical and pre-clinical evidences have confirmed these therapeutic properties of the crude extracts of different species of the genus Valeriana and Passiflora, including Valeriana officialis L. and Passiflora alata Dryander (Leathwood et al, 1982;Andreatini and Leite, 1994;Houghton, 1999;Herrera-Arelano et al, 2001;Dhawan et al, 2001;Petry et al, 2001;De Paris et al, 2002;Andreatini et al, 2002). Passiflora alata Dryander is known as maracuja-doce in Brazil and is the only species of the genus acknowledged, by the Brazilian Pharmacopeia (Vasconcelos and Cereda, 1994;Oliveira et al, 1994).…”

First record of a natural hexaploid population for Valeriana officinalis: genome size is confirmed to be a suitable indicator of ploidy level in the species

“…Although it seems that valepotriates or their metabolites play a role in the therapeutic properties of V. officinalis, these have not been definitely attributed to a particular compound, and they are thought to be explained by the synergistic effects of multiple active constituents (Upton and Petrone 1999;Andreatini et al 2002;Vanaclocha and Cañigueral 2003, and references therein). The use of valerian thus exclusively relies on cultivation.…”

Mexican Medicinal Plants Used to Alleviate the Symptoms of Anxiety: Mini-Review

“…The anxiolytic activity of valepotriates has been tested in patients using a mixture of 80% dihydrovaltrate, 15% valtrate and 5% acevaltrate using diazepam as placebo. The preliminary data obtained from this study suggested that the valepotriates may have a potential anxiolytic effect on the psychic symptoms of anxiety [41]. On the other hand, it has been described that valepotriates act in the brain through gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors [42].…”