CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The study of new sources ofphytopharmaceuticals is an interesting field of research and in many cases theselection of new species to study are based on plants that have been used sinceancient times by different ethnic groups in each regions of the world. One ofthe genus of cosmopolitan distribution with many species used for medicinalpurposes around the world is Valeriana L. The genus Valeriana, with more than 250 speciesis widely distributed worldwide, except Australia and New Zealand, being SouthAmerica an important center of diversification. The underground organ of many Valerianaspecies contains numerous compounds used as a sedative and relaxing,allowing the reduction of nervousness and agitation associated with stress.This genus is widely studied, with special focus on anxiolytic properties. Forthese purposes, roots of the Eurasian species V. officinalis L. havebeen used worldwide for treatment of anxiety and mild sleep disorders. A studyindicates that flavonoids in this species have sedative activity in the centralnervous system. Others authors suggests that biochemical composition and activeconstituents in Valeriana are phenols, valepotriates, valeric acid andgamma-aminobutyric acid. Besides, pre-clinical studies reported the antidepressant-likeactivity of some species as V. officinalis, V. jatamansi Jones, V.glechomifolia Mey. and V. prionophylla. Due to the importance of Valerianaspecies for medicinal purpose, in different countries have soughtalternatives for replacement of V. officinalis by nativerepresentatives. Examples are V. edulis Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray subsp.procera (Kunth) G. F. Mey in Mexico, V. glechomifolia in Brazil and V.jatamansi in India, among others. In this context, from the Argentine Patagonia westarted the study in native Valerians in order to search alternative sources ofphytopharmaceuticals. In Argentina, the genus Valeriana is representedby 50 species, of which 20 are distributed in Patagonia. The Andean Region ofPatagonia has a rich diversity of Valeriana and Patagonian indigenouspeoples and rural societies extensively used some of these species sinceancient times for curing various human ailments. The most used Valeriana speciesby regional ethnic groups is V. carnosa ?Ñanculahuén?, considered a?sacred plant? and the breadth of its reputed uses has led to its being knownas ?the plant that cures the seven illnesses?. This attributeconfers on the species high cultural and symbolic value for the Mapuche people,and its reputation and use has spread throughout the formal and informalmedicinal herb market of Patagonian cities. The crude drug is prepared from theroots and rhizomes, principally as a decoction and has been cited as hepatic,respiratory, circulatory, urinary, digestive, analgesic, anti-inflammatory,antidepressive and for treat cultural syndromes. Studies suggest that secondarymetabolites in V. carnosa are majority valepotriates, flavonoids,phenolic acids, essential oils, among others. Currently,we are studying different aspects of V. carnosa, from genetic andchemical characterization of populations distributed along Patagonia, to thestudy of propagation and cropping systems. The objective is to study thebioactivity of chemical compounds under the paradigm of science in V.carnosa and in parallel domesticate and cultivate this species, in order toobtain potential marketable font of phytodrugs and strengthen the productivedevelopment in the region.

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