Nardostachys jatamansi (Jones ex Roxb.) DC.

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian valerian

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Valeriana jatamansi var. hygrobia
• Valeriana jatamansi var. frondosa
• Valeriana jatamansi var. glabra
• Valeriana wallichii
• Valeriana violifolia
• Valeriana harmsii
• Valeriana hygrobia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Dipsacales, it is classified under the family Caprifoliaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Valeriana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Valeriana jatamansi, exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions of Asia. In Western Asia, it can be found growing within the borders of Afghanistan. Its presence in China is extensive, spanning from the north-central territories to the southeast regions. Furthermore, the species is naturally distributed throughout the high-altitude terrain of Tibet. Finally, within the Indian Subcontinent, the plant is specifically located in the state of Assam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Valeriana jatamansi is closely tied to its specific altitudinal preferences within montane ecosystems. This species is primarily distributed across a vertical gradient that characterizes its preferred habitat, typically thriving in mid-to-high altitude regions. The plant maintains a significant elevational range, with a minimum occurrence recorded at 1,200 m AMSL and a maximum threshold reaching up to 3,300 m AMSL. On average, the species is most commonly found at a mean elevation of 1,600 m AMSL, suggesting that its optimal ecological niche is centered around these temperate or subtropical montane zones.

Elevational range max:

3300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Valeriana jatamansi is characterized by its status as a perennial herb, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, the plant establishes a robust root system that stores energy, enabling it to regrow and flourish annually once favorable environmental conditions are met. Its lifecycle typically involves a period of vegetative growth where it develops its characteristic foliage, followed by a reproductive phase where it produces inflorescences. This perennial nature ensures that the plant can withstand seasonal fluctuations, maintaining a continuous presence in its natural habitat through successive years of growth and reproduction.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Valeriana jatamansi is characterized by a growth form identified as a herb, displaying a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative body. As a terrestrial plant, it grows independently in its natural habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its climbing habits, the plant exhibits a self-supporting nature, behaving as a self-supporting liana or vine that does not require external structures for its primary orientation, categorizing it as a self-supporting rather than an obligatory or facultative climber.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Valeriana jatamansi is characterized by a distinct seasonal flowering cycle that facilitates its reproductive processes. The flowering period for this species is variable, but it typically follows a predictable seasonal progression. The flowering stage is observed to commence around April, marking the onset of the plant's reproductive activity. This blooming period continues through the warmer months, eventually reaching its conclusion around August. This temporal window of flowering is essential for the plant's lifecycle, providing the necessary timeframe for pollination and subsequent seed development.

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Aug

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Valeriana jatamansi has 3 reported plant parts identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, rhizome, leaf.

Root

1. Fitoterapia
2. BioMed research international
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Frontiers in plant science
5. Journal of natural products

Rhizome

1. Ayu
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology
4. Journal of natural products
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

Leaf

1. Frontiers in plant science

Chemicals

Valeriana jatamansi has 72 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Patchouli alcohol, Acevaltrate, Lignans, Flavonoid, Iridoids.

Patchouli alcohol

1. Dr. Duke
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Frontiers in plant science
4. International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology
5. Chemistry & biodiversity

Acevaltrate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cryo letters
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Lignans

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine
3. International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology
4. Journal of natural products

Flavonoid

1. BioMed research international
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Iridoids

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine
2. Journal of natural products
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Valerenic acid

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
3. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Valtrate

1. Cryo letters
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

H2O2

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Seychellene

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Valeriana jatamansi has 143 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antitumor, Antiviral, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine
4. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Analgesic

1. Ayu
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Ayu

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Tranquilizer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Valeriana jatamansi has 19 reported investigations on conditions identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include insomnia, abdominal pain, analgesic, antidepressant, antioxidant.

Insomnia

1. Ayu
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
3. Natural product research

Abdominal pain

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Analgesic

1. Ayu

Antidepressant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Anxiety

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Asthma

1. Natural product research

Chronic pain

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Depression

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Epilepsy

1. Ayu

Preparations

Valeriana jatamansi has 13 reported preparations identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include rhizomes, roots, Chloroform and ethylacetate fractions, Chloroform fraction, EtOH extract.

Rhizomes

1. Ayu
2. Journal of natural products

Roots

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of natural products

Chloroform and ethylacetate fractions

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chloroform fraction

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Etoh extract

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Methanol (50%) extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Cell suspension cultures

1. Journal of natural products

Crude extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Ethylacetate fractions

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Extract prepared from the dried rhizome

1. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology