1.   Introduction

The genus Valeriana, belonging to the Valerianaceae family, is represented by 16 species/subspecies, of which six, namely V. jatamansi Jones, V. himalayana Grub., V. pyrolaefolia Decne., V. mussooriensis, V. hardwickii Wall. var. hardwickii, and V. hardwickii Wall. var. arnottiana (Wt. C. B. Clarke), occur in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) of Uttarakhand [1]. Among these, the roots and rhizomes of valeriana (Valeriana jatamansi) from the Valerianaceae family are used to prepare modern phytomedical products, mild traditional sedatives, and antianxiety and digestive formulations [1-3].  Indian Valerian, Valeriana jatamansi Jones has been used as an ingredient in Indian herbal medicine. The ancient Indian Ayurveda describe the medicinal properties of Tagar (Valeriana jatamansi) for curing various diseases like obesity, nervous disorders, epilepsy, insanity, snake poisoning and skin diseases. Today, Valeriana is still a highly respected medicinal plant described in many pharmacopoeia monographs [4]. Charak Samhita, an ancient Indian medical text, describes two forms of V. wallichii distinguishable in the field alone [5]. It has also been described as variable in general size of plants, but with no specific difference in other plant characters [6]. The major active compounds present in Valeriana are monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and valepotriates. Among these, the valepotriates have significant hypotensive properties, but the total sedative activity has also been attributed to the presence of oxygenated sesquiterpenoid constituents [7-11].

Many chemical compounds of Valeriana species including lignoids, iridoids, valeriandoids, and valepotriates, which are used to cure a variety of illnesses, were found in the plant's roots and rhizomes. Its pharmacological properties have been assessed for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects in vitro as well as their neuroprotective, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo [12-15].

Due to the vast biological actions and different chemical compositions of Valeriana species, we tried to compare the essential oil composition of wild and cultivated Valeriana jatamansi and their similarities/differences at their chemotype levels.

2.   Materials and methods

2.1 Plant material

The fresh roots sample (250 g) of wild Valeriana jatamansi (VLW) was collected from Gangolihat village (29.7146700 N, 80.0372500 E) of Pithoragarh district (Uttarakhand), (Fig.1) and 250 g of root sample taken of cultivated plant material (VLC) from the research farm (29.7762360 N, 80.0508730 E) of Himalayan Medicinal & Aromatic Plant Research Centre (HIMARC), Berinag (Uttarakhand) in the month of April (Fig. 2). The sample, identified by Botany Department, Kumaun University, Nainital (Voucher No.: HIMARC/ BSB/ VAL/2023) was deposited in the HIMARC for future reference.

2.2 Extraction of oil

The underground parts of the plant (250 g each wild and cultivated) were submitted to hydrodistillation for 5 h, using a Clevenger-type apparatus, according to the European Pharmacopoeia [10]. The volatile distillate was collected over anhydrous sodium sulfate and refrigerated till the time of analysis.

2.3 GC and GC-MS analysis

The oils were analyzed by using a Nucon 5765 gas chromatograph (Rtx-5 column, 30 m × 0.32 mm, FID), split ratio 1:48, N2 flow of 4 kg/cm2 and on Thermo Quest Trace GC 2000 interfaced with MAT Polaris Q Ion Trap Mass spectrometer fitted with a Rtx-5 (Restek Corp.) fused silica capillary column (30 m x 0.25 mm; 0.25 µm film coating). Analyses of essential oils and extracts were performed by following the method discussed by Mathela et al. [8].

2.4 Identification of constituents:

The essential oil was fractionated by column chromatography (CC), on silica gel CC (230-400 mesh, Merk, 600 x 25 cm column) packed with hexane, and eluted with hexane followed by gradient elution by Et2O/hexane (1-20%). The identification was done on the basis of Linear Retention Index (LRI), determined with reference to homologous series of n-alkanes (C9- C24, Polyscience Corp., Niles IL under identical experimental condition), co-injection with standard (Sigma and Aldrich), MS Library search (NIST version 2.1 and Wiley registry of mass spectral data 7th edition), by comparing with the MS literature data [11] and by NMR (1H, 13C NMR) of major isolates. The relative amounts of individual components were calculated based on GC peak area (FID response) without using correction factor.

3.   Results and discussion

Based on the dry root, the oil extracted by hydrodistillation from Valeriana jatamansi roots VLC was 0.51% and VLW was 0.26%. The results of the present work are summarized in Table 1. GC and GC/MS analyses indicated more than 25 distinct compounds in the essential oil from the roots of Valeriana jatamansi. The essential oil composition of cultivated plant material (VLC) was to be found rich in Patchouli alcohol (40.56%), α-Bulnesene (9.70%), α-guaiene (6.62%) and α-Patchoulene (4.82%) as major constituents (Fig. 3), while wild plant material (VLW) contains Patchouli alcohol (32.11%), α-Bulnesene (12.57%), α–guaiene (6.28%), α-Patchoulene (5.22%) and 8-acetoxy patchouli alcohol (8.08%) (Fig. 4). Numerous compounds, including valerenic acid, isovaleric acid, valeranone, α ‐pinene, camphene, α‐ santalene, ar‐curcumene, xanthorrhizol, α‐terpineol, bornyl isovalerate, maaliol, valtrate, didrovaltrate, patchouli alcohol, 8‑acetoxy patchouli alcohol, and α, β, and γ‐patchoulene have been identified in previous studies on Valeriana species rhizome and root essential oil [16-20]. Further 115 samples collected from the Champawat, Ukhimath & Pithoragarh regions of Uttarakhand Himalaya were found to rich in patchouli alcohol and 8-acetoxy-patchouli alcohol [8, 12-14]. A similar composition was found in our investigated samples indicating the resemblance of our samples to that chemotype.

Figure 3. Gas Chromatogram of Valeriana jatamansi (Cultivated, VLC)

Figure 4. Gas Chromatogram of Valeriana jatamansi (Wild, VLW)

From Table 1, it is clearly found that there are significant differences in the essential oil composition isolated by wild and plant material cultivated in Indian Himalayan Region and the variation in the % composition of the constituents. Both cultivated and wild plant material represent the Patchouli alcohol chemotype of Valeriana jatamansi reported earlier [8, 12-14]. But the significant variation in the % composition of Patchouli alcohol and 8-acetoxy patchouli alcohols are notable, hence their environmental factors can be further tested to determine which are responsible for generating similar/different essential oil compositions.

Table 1. Chemical constituents of Valeriana jatamansi VLC (Cultivated) and VLW (Wild)

4.   Conclusions

The current study's findings showed that growing circumstances associated with domesticating wild Valeriana raise the percentage of patchouli alcohol as the output of essential oils while decreasing the amount of 8-acetoxy patchouli alcohol. Patchouli alcohol has multiple biological qualities that are advantageous in a range of circumstances. These characteristics include those that are aphrodisiac, insecticidal, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic. Numerous products, such as soap, body lotions, fragrances, detergents, and cosmetics, are made using these qualities. The primary characteristic of this mutation was a significant increase in patchouli alcohol and decrease in 8-acetoxy patchouli alcohol. However, research is still being done to assess how certain environmental elements and cultural techniques affect the agronomic characteristics, phytochemical makeup, and other biological activities of the essential oil extracted from Valeriana jatamansi in oasis habitats.

Authors’ contributions

Conceptualization, B.S.B.; Methodology, B.S.B. and G.K.; Formal analysis, B.S.B., G.K. and R.C.P.; Plant material collection, B.S.B.; Original draft preparation, B.S.B.; Reviewing and editing, R.C.P.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Heads of Botany and Chemistry Departments, Kumaun University for plant identification and providing necessary research facilities respectively. The authors are also grateful to Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Pantnagar for instrumental analysis. 

Funding

This research has been funded by the Uttarakhand State Council for Science & Technology (UCOST), Dehradun (Uttarakhand). 

Availability of data and materials

All data will be made available on request, according to the journal policy.

Conflicts of interest

There is no conflict of interest.

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