Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

V
694 Valeriana wallichii DC.
Valeriana wallichii DC.
Synonym ◮ V. jatamansi Jones.
Nardostachys jatamansi (Jones) DC.
Family ◮ Valerianaceae.
Habitat ◮ Temperate Himalayas from
Kashmir to Bhutan, above 3,000 m,
and Khasia Hills.
English ◮ Indian Valerian.
Ayurvedic ◮ Tagara, Sugandhabaalaa,
Kaalaanusaari, Kaalaanusaarikaa,
Nata. (Delphinum brunonianum
Royle, Ranunculaceae, syn. Kutila,
Nata, Vakra, is also used as Tagara.)
Unani ◮ Asaarun, Tagar Reshewaalaa.
Siddha ◮ Tagarai.
Folk ◮ Taggar, Baalaka, Mushkbaalaa,
Asaarun, Tagar-ganthodaa.
Action ◮ Rhizomes and roots—
used as a substitute for Valeriana
officinalis; prescribed as a remedy
for hysteria, nervous unrest
and emotional troubles, and as
a sedative.
Rhizomes and roots contain cyclopentapyrans,acacetin-7-O-rutinosides,
valtrate, didrovaltrate, linarin
iso-valerinate, valepotriates and an iridoid
ester glycoside, valerosidatum.
Cyclopentapyrans exhibit sedative,
tranquilizing and bacteriocidal properties.
Valtrate and didrovaltrate were cytotoxic
to hepatoma cells in culture and
inhibited synthesis of DNA and protein
in tumor cells.
Root—spasmolytic. Essential oil—
antibacterial. (Indian Valerian oils are
considered poor as compared to those
of V. officinalis oils.) The essential oil
from roots contains calarene, betabargamotene,
valeranone, ar-curcumene,
maalioxide and maalitol. Main
acids present are isovaleric acid and
(+)-beta-methyl valeric acid.
Valeriana jatamansi auct. non Jones,
synonyms Nardostachys grandiflora
DC. and N. jatamansi DC. is equated
with Indian Spikenard, Musk-Root
and Jataamaansi.
Dosage ◮ Rhizome—1–3 g powder.
(API, Vol. I.)
Vallaris solanacea Kuntze
Synonym ◮ V. heynei Spreng.
V. dichotoma (Roxb.) Wall. ex G.
Don.
Family ◮ Apocynaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughout India;
cultivated in gardens.
Ayurvedic ◮ Aasphotaa, Asphuka,
Bhadravalli, Saarivaa-utpala (white
var.).
Folk ◮ Haapharamaali var. Dudhi-bel
(Garhwal).
Action ◮ Latex—applied to old
wounds and sores (mildly irritant).
Bark—astringent. Seeds—cardiac
tonic.
Seeds are rich in cardiac glycosides;
contain acoschimperoside P,
mono-O-acetylvallaroside, mono-Oacetylsolanoside,mono-O-acetylacoschimperoside
P, vallaroside, vallarosolanoside,
solanoside and 16-deacetyl-16-anhydroacoschimperoside
P. Oacetylsolanoside
is a potent cardiotonic.