Valerian
Common name
Valerian essential, all-heal, garden heliotrope, Valerian Root, Valerian essential oil
ID
HD0062
Scientific name of the plant
Valeriana officinalis
Anatomical part for use
root, rhizome
Human use
Sleep disorders & temporary insomnia,Mental stress & mood disorders
Summary
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 1.5 metres (5 ft), 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. (Source: Wiki)
Evidence Level
Level 4 (Individual reports repeated observed over 5 years among different countries)
Hepatotoxicity reports in literature
- [Acute hepatitis after phytotherapy] : (Source)
- Black cohosh and other herbal remedies associated with acute hepatitis : (Source)
- A case of valerian-associated hepatotoxicity : (Source)
- Valeriana hepatotoxicity : (Source)
- Hepatotoxicity of herbal remedies : (Source)
- A case of steroid-responsive valerian-associated hepatitis : (Source)
- Acute hepatitis with use of over-the-counter herbal remedies : (Source)
Hepatotoxicity Description
Valerian has been implicated in a small number of cases of clinically apparent liver injury, but usually in combination with other botanicals such as skullcap or black cohosh. In view of its wide scale use, valerian has to be considered a very rare cause of hepatic injury. In published cases, the latency to onset ranged from 3 to 12 weeks and the pattern of enzyme elevations was usually hepatocellular or mixed hepatocellular-cholestatic. The liver injury was usually mild-to-moderate in severity with recovery within 2 to 4 months of stopping. Immunoallergic and autoimmune features were not present. Severe cases with features of hepatic failure have been described, but usually in association with other potentially hepatotoxic herbals. (Source: LiverTox)
Common name
Valerian essential, all-heal, garden heliotrope, Valerian Root, Valerian essential oil
ID
HD0062
Scientific name of the plant
Valeriana officinalis
Anatomical part for use
root, rhizome
Human use
Sleep disorders & temporary insomnia,Mental stress & mood disorders
Summary
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 1.5 metres (5 ft), 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. (Source: Wiki)
Evidence Level
Level 4 (Individual reports repeated observed over 5 years among different countries)
Hepatotoxicity reports in literature
- [Acute hepatitis after phytotherapy] : (Source)
- Black cohosh and other herbal remedies associated with acute hepatitis : (Source)
- A case of valerian-associated hepatotoxicity : (Source)
- Valeriana hepatotoxicity : (Source)
- Hepatotoxicity of herbal remedies : (Source)
- A case of steroid-responsive valerian-associated hepatitis : (Source)
- Acute hepatitis with use of over-the-counter herbal remedies : (Source)
Hepatotoxicity Description
Valerian has been implicated in a small number of cases of clinically apparent liver injury, but usually in combination with other botanicals such as skullcap or black cohosh. In view of its wide scale use, valerian has to be considered a very rare cause of hepatic injury. In published cases, the latency to onset ranged from 3 to 12 weeks and the pattern of enzyme elevations was usually hepatocellular or mixed hepatocellular-cholestatic. The liver injury was usually mild-to-moderate in severity with recovery within 2 to 4 months of stopping. Immunoallergic and autoimmune features were not present. Severe cases with features of hepatic failure have been described, but usually in association with other potentially hepatotoxic herbals. (Source: LiverTox)