Antimicrobial properties of medicinal plants; The new therapeutic aspect of Valeriana officinalis

The increased use of antibiotics and chemicals with various side effects is now persuading scientists to develop natural substitutes with appropriate effectiveness and protection for humans. The outbreak of the worldchr('39')s emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases has prompted pharmaceutical companies to develop new medicines. Valerian is one of the worldwide recognized medicinal herbs that consume abundantly for the treatment of various human diseases and disorders. The Valerianaceae family contains 10 genera and approximately 300 species 1.  It has widely cultivated for commercial purposes in some regions of Iran, including ornamental, edible, and medical1.  V.officinalis rhizomes contain two major constituent groups, including volatile oil sesquiterpens and valpotriates. Both active components are present in the hypodermis in large thin-cells at the roots, and rhizomes periphery2. Although there are still some disagreements about the relative efficacy of various groups of V.officinalis compounds, it is widely accepted that valerenic acid is the most important biologically active component3,4. Valerenic acid and its derivatives are commonly considered to contribute to valerian extracts chr('39') pharmaceutical effect, characterized and isolated by different analytical methods5. Valerenic acid can be used in different disorders such as depression, chronic anxiety, and sleep disorders on the basis of the previous studies4. Based on previous literature, the valerenic acid component had antimicrobial effects on different microorganisms such as Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans and its methanolic extract functions were dose-dependent6,7,8. Since the antimicrobial activity of V. officinalis in the total extract was correlated with abundant monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, more research on various aspects of pharmaceutical effects is suggested.  

Keywords:

Antimicrobial , Valeriana officinalis , New aspect