Kanokonyl acetate-rich Indian valerian from Northwestern Himalaya

Abstract

The volatile composition of rhizomes of Valeriana wallichii DC has been studied by GC, GC/MS and NMR spectroscopy. Sesquiterpenes were shown to be the main constituents (>89.3%) comprising kanokonyl acetate (42.4%), γ-curcumene (10.7%), ar-curcumene (7.2%), (Z)-β-farnesene (3.2%), xanthorrhizol (4.1%), 7-epi-α-selinene (2.2%), valeranone (2.0%) and curcuphenol (1.4%). The unique presence of kanokonyl acetate and the complete absence of the earlier reported chemotype marker constituents of Indian valerian viz. maaliol and patchouli alcohol makes the composition significant.