Variation in the composition of the essential oil of Valeriana officinalis L. roots from Estonia

Abstract

The volatile constituents from roots of Valeriana officinalis L. were investigated using GC and GC/MS methods. Valerianae radix samples were obtained from retail pharmacies or cultivated in Estonia. The roots of five V. officinalis samples yielded 0.28-1.16% essential oil in the cut drug, which usually corresponded (four samples) to the European Pharmacopeia standard (0.3%). The basic oil components among the identified 84 compounds were isovaleric acid (0-2.1%), α-pinene (0.4-3.6%), α-fenchene (0.6-5.8%), camphene (0.6-5.9%), bornyl acetate (8.8-33.7%), myrtenyl acetate (2.0-7.2%), alloaromadendrene (0.3-7.6%), myrtenyl isovalerate (1.1-2.5%), spathulenol (0.7-4.1%), sesquiterpene alcohol (0.8-6.6%), valerianol (0.3-16.7%), valeranone (0.5-9.4%), and valerenal (tr-14.7%). Valerian root oil from Estonia (four samples) was rich in bornyl acetate and valerenal. Bornyl acetate, valerianol, and valeranone dominated in one Estonian sample.