Polysomnographic evaluation of the hypnotic effect of Valeriana edulis standardized extract in patients suffering from insomnia

Valeriana edulis ssp. procera, commonly known as "valeriana mexicana", is w idely used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of insomnia an d anxiety. To evaluate the hypnotic effect and safety of 450 mg of Valerian a edulis standardized hydroalcoholic extract in patients with insomnia, a d ouble-blind, cross-over, controlled study was carried out. Valeriana offici nalis extract, at the same doses, was used as a positive control. In a slee p laboratory, polysomnographic (PSG) recordings were performed for analyzin g the quantity and architecture of sleep as well as evaluating morning slee piness, memory quotient, and side effects. The experimental procedures were conducted on four consecutive nights of 8 In each. Twenty patients were ad mitted. Based on the PSG results, V. edulis reduced the number of awaking e pisodes while both treatments increased the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep; this last parameter was better improved by V. officinalis extract. Other P SG data did not achieve outstanding statistical differences, but the clinic al tendency with both treatments was to increase the sleep efficiency index . These Valeriana extracts produced beneficial effects on sleep architectur e because they diminished the time of stages 1 and 2 in non-REM sleep while they increased delta sleep. Validated clinical tests showed that both spec ies reduced notoriously the morning sleepiness, that was further improved b y V. of ficinalis extract, and did not affect anterograde memory. in only t hree cases were slight side effects observed, one due to the experimental e xtract. Chemical analysis of the hydroalcoholic extract of V edulis indicat ed that this extract contains 0.26% of dihydroisovaltrate as the main valep otriate, and that it does not contain valerenic acid. In general, the resul ts support the hypnotic effect and safety of acute treatment of Valeriana e dulis and Valeriana officinalis on patients suffering insomnia.