Antispasmodic Effect of Valeriana pilosa Root Essential Oil and Potential Mechanisms of Action: Ex Vivo and In Silico Studies.

Infusions of Valeriana pilosa are commonly used in Peruvian folk medicine for treating gastrointestinal disorders. This study aimed to investigate the spasmolytic and antispasmodic effects of Valeriana pilosa essential oil (VPEO) on rat ileum. The basal tone of ileal sections decreased in response to accumulative concentrations of VPEO. Moreover, ileal sections precontracted with acetylcholine (ACh), potassium chloride (KCl), or barium chloride (BaCl2) were relaxed in response to VPEO by a mechanism that depended on atropine, hyoscine butylbromide, solifenacin, and verapamil, but not glibenclamide. The results showed that VPEO produced a relaxant effect by inhibiting muscarinic receptors and blocking calcium channels, with no apparent effect on the opening of potassium channels. In addition, molecular docking was employed to evaluate VPEO constituents that could inhibit intestinal contractile activity. The study showed that α-cubebene, ß-patchoulene, ß-bourbonene, ß-caryophyllene, α-guaiene, γ-muurolene, valencene, eremophyllene, and δ-cadinene displayed the highest docking scores on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and voltage-gated calcium channels, which may antagonize M2 and/or M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and block voltage-gated calcium channels. In summary, VPEO has both spasmolytic and antispasmodic effects. It may block muscarinic receptors and calcium channels, thus providing a scientific basis for its traditional use for gastrointestinal disorders.

Valeriana pilosa Roots Essential Oil: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activities, and Molecular Docking Studies on Enzymes Involved in Redox Biological Processes.

Valeriana pilosa is usually employed in Peruvian folk medicine in the form of infusion to treat stomach pain, and has antispasmodic, relaxing, sleep-promoting, and sedative properties, as well as is an anti-inflammatory. In this study, Valeriana pilosa essential oil (VPEO) was obtained by hydrodistillation, analyzed by GC and GC/MS, and 47 compounds were identified. Major oil components were α-patchoulene (5.8%), α-humulene (6.1%), seychellene (7.6%), and patchoulol (20.8%). Furthermore, we assessed the in vitro antioxidant activities, molecular docking, and Ligand Efficiency studies on enzymes involved in cellular redox pathways such as CYP2C9, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and xanthine oxidase. Essential oil antioxidant activities were assessed by FRAP, ABTS•+, and DPPH• radical scavenging activity. VPEO displays high antioxidant activity as compared to essential oils of Valeriana jatamansi and Valeriana officinalis oil roots. In addition, molecular docking and ADMET prediction was employed to compare the absorption, metabolism, and toxicity properties of Valeriana pilosa compounds. In the molecular docking studies, limonene, p-cimene, carvone, α-cubebene, cyclosativene, α-guaiene, allo-aromadendrene, valencene, and eremophyllene were the compounds with the best docking score on CYP2C9 and xanthine oxidase. Thus, volatile components of Valeriana pilosa could be associated with the detected antioxidant activity, acting as putative inhibitors of CYP2C9 and xanthine oxidase.

Biología de Valeriana pilosa R. &. P. (Valerianaceae): una especie en peligro de extinción de las altas montañas de Perú / Valeriana pilosa R. &. P. (Valerianaceae) biology: an endangered species in the high mountains of Peru

El estudio se realizó en un área de vegetación natural en Campo Alegre (3708 msnm), centro poblado de Huanico, distrito de Namora, Cajamarca (Perú), donde Valeriana pilosa R. & P. crece espontáneamente. Se describió la planta, la semilla, la regeneración natural, la fenología de las poblaciones, el área foliar y la asignación de la materia seca a los órganos de las matas adultas. Se realizaron pruebas de germinación y se evaluó el crecimiento de las plántulas. La planta vive en el pajonal, asociada, principalmente, a especies de Calamagrostis y Stipa. Se regenera mediante semilla, bajo la protección de las plantas acompañantes. La fenología de las poblaciones estuvo relacionada con la temperatura y la precipitación pluvial. El área foliar por mata fue de 925 cm2 y el índice de cosecha promedio de 35.8 por ciento. Mil semillas pesaron 0.2 g y tuvieron 43 por ciento de germinación. Las plántulas crecieron 5.6 mm mes-1.

The study was conducted in an area of natural vegetation in Campo Alegre (3708 m), Huanico, Namora district, Cajamarca (Perú), where Valeriana pilosa R. & P. (“valeriana”) grows spontaneously. Plant, seed, natural regeneration, phenology of populations, leaf area and dry matter allocation of the organs of adult bush were described. Germination tests were performed and the growth of seedlings was evaluated. The plant lives in the scrubland, mainly associated with species of Calamagrostis and Stipa. It is regenerated by seed, under the protection of companion plants. The phenology of populations was related to temperature and rainfall. The leaf area per plant was 925 cm2 and the average harvest index of 35.8 percent. Thousand seeds weighed 0.2 g and had 43 percent germination. Seedlings were grown 5.6 mm month-1.