ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the skeletal types and individual constituents found in Valeriana species with some emphasis on patterns of qualitative and quantitative variation and also on structure-activity relationships. The volatile oils produced from Valeriana consist of a mixture of mono- and sesquiterpenoids or almost completely sesquiterpenoids. The Valerianaceae is a source of a variety of sesquiterpenes including two unique ring systems. They are: the valerenal type 12 and the kessane type 13. The term ‘Valepotriate’ arises from the part-acronym of Valeriana epoxy triester. The commercial interest in Valeriana species as a source of valepotriates has prompted investigation into the use of cell cultures as a means of production. The phenolic acids derived from the shikimate pathway are probably present in most plant species to some extent either as free compounds or combined with sugars. Flavonoids are present in nearly all flowering plant species and represent a large number of compounds.
