Valepotriates and valerenic acids in commercial preparations of valerian available in Australia

Thirty-one commercial valerian preparations available in Australia, includi ng teas, tablets, capsules and liquids, were analysed by HPLC for valepotri ates, valerenic acid and valerenic acid derivatives. The concentration of v alerenic acid and its derivatives ranged from <0.01 to 6.32 mg/g of product . Powder capsules, on average, contained the highest concentration of valer enic acids (2.46 mg/g) and liquids the lowest concentration (0.47 mg/ml). T he mean concentration of valerenic acid in the five products standardized a gainst valerenic acid (3.56 mg/g.) was significantly higher than in the 26 non-standardized products (0.89 mg/g). There was a significant relationship between valerenic acids content and added valerian root for the standardiz ed products but not for the non-standardised products. Valepotriates were f ound at low levels (<1.0 mg/g) in some teas but were not detected in any of the finished products.