Chemical Constituents of Plants from the Genus Valeriana

The genus Valeriana (Valerianaceae) contains over 250 species distributed around the world and used in traditional medicines of many cultures. The main compounds isolated from Valeriana species are essential oils, valerenic acid and its derivatives and iridoids, accumulated mainly in the roots and rhizomes. This review lists 135 chemical constituents as well as their biosynthesis and bioactivity as reported by the end of 2008 (80 references).