Valerian Extract 0.8–1% Valerenic Acids

Valerian extract is prepared from the root and rhizome of Valeriana officinalis, the tall perennial of Eurasian meadows, and not from the Indian or Mexican valerian species. Ethanol extraction takes up the sesquiterpenoid acids of the root, and the liquor is dried to a light brown powder with the typical heavy valerian odor.

The grade range is 0.8–1% valerenic acids by HPLC, and the primary grade is the 1% end. The powder is 80 mesh and insoluble in water. The two grades are close in strength, so the choice is a matter of the exact marker target and the fill weight of a capsule or tablet.

SKU: BOT-STX-0055 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Dry Blends & Premixes, Ethanol Extracted, Root & Rhizome, Softgels & Oil Fills, Standardized Extracts, Valerian

Valerenic Acid Standardization & Grades

Valerenic acids are sesquiterpenoid acids, a small family of related compounds that includes valerenic acid, hydroxyvalerenic acid and acetoxyvalerenic acid. They are characteristic of Valeriana officinalis and are largely absent from several other Valeriana species, which is why they are used as the identity marker. The root also holds iridoid esters called valepotriates, which are unstable and not retained in an extract, and the volatile oil that gives the plant its odor. The botanical entity is Valeriana officinalis L., a plant of the Caprifoliaceae, and the part used is the root and rhizome.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
0.8% Valerenic Acids	HPLC	Capsules and tablets
1% Valerenic Acids	HPLC	Capsules and tablets with small fill

The two grades differ by a quarter. The 1% grade packs a little more marker into a capsule of the same weight, and the 0.8% grade fills at a slightly larger weight. Valerian extract at either level is a standardized extract with a low marker percentage, since the sesquiterpenoid acids make up only a small share of the root. The root is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract, the Valerian Root Extract Powder, which carries no marker figure, and as a milled root, the Valerian Root Powder. Both are different materials from the standardized extract. The dried root of valerian has the strongest odor of any part of the plant. Valerian extract at 1% is the more concentrated of the two grades, and valerian extract at 0.8% fills slightly more bulk.

Valerenic Acid Analysis & Purity Risks

Both grades are measured by HPLC. The sesquiterpenoid acids absorb ultraviolet light weakly, so detection is made at a low wavelength, and the peaks are identified against reference standards. In pharmacopoeial practice the acids are summed and expressed as valerenic acid, so the percentage describes the group on a single reference. A UV total or a gravimetric terpenoid figure counts everything in the class and cannot be converted into an HPLC result.

Sample preparation uses an alcohol diluent. The powder is dissolved, filtered and injected on a reversed-phase column with a gradient, and the acids elute close together, so resolution of the neighboring peaks is a point of method control. Because the acids are lipophilic and the powder is insoluble in water, the extract is not suited to a method that begins with an aqueous solution.

The chromatogram is read as a pattern. Valeriana officinalis shows valerenic acid and its hydroxy and acetoxy forms, and an extract that lacks them, or that shows a different terpenoid pattern, comes from another species or part. Valepotriates are labile and hydrolyze to products that give valerian its odor, so they are not part of the specification.

Purity risks are botanical. Valerian is a large genus, and Indian valerian, Valeriana wallichii, Mexican valerian, Valeriana edulis, and others are traded as valerian. They have different marker patterns and do not carry the valerenic acid profile of the European species. A stated species, the root and rhizome as the part and the acid pattern are the first identity checks.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Valeriana officinalis
Plant Part	Root & Rhizome
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Terpenoids
Common Name	Valerian, Valerian Root
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Valerenic acids (sesquiterpenoid acids)
Primary Grade	1% Valerenic Acids (HPLC)
Available Grades	0.8% · 1% Valerenic Acids (HPLC)
Appearance	Light Brown powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Insoluble in Water
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)	≤5.0%
Total Ash	≤5.0%
Particle Size	80 mesh
Heavy Metals	Lead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
Microbiology	TPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life	24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

Applications by Grade

1% Grade for Compact Capsules

The 1% grade carries the valerenic acid target in a small fill and suits capsules and tablets. The powder is insoluble in water and carries a strong odor, so use closed transfers and an odor-barrier liner on the filling line.

1% Grade in Tablet Blends

Tablets of the 1% grade need a dry binder and a lubricant, because the oily, aromatic powder is cohesive and sticks to punches. A film coat covers the odor, and a sealed blister stops the smell from reaching the carton.

0.8% Grade in Capsule Blends

The 0.8% grade fills capsules at a slightly larger weight, which helps metering when valerian is blended with other root extracts. Pre-blend it with part of the carrier, since the strong odor can transfer to pale ingredients.

0.8% Grade in Softgel Fills

Softgel fills can carry the 0.8% grade as a milled suspension in oil. The acids are lipophilic and the powder blends with oil, and an odor-barrier shell and secondary pack limit the smell in the finished product.

0.8% Grade in Dry Botanical Blends

Dry blends combine the powder with hops, chamomile or lemon balm extracts, whose aroma hides a part of the valerian note. Mix the strongest-smelling component last and in a closed blender, and check the finished blend for odor uniformity.

1% Grade in Film-Coated Tablets

Film-coated tablets use the coat to isolate the odor and to protect the lipophilic acids from air and light. Test the coat for seal integrity and check the odor of the finished tablet after storage in a warm room.

Technical & Quality Considerations

The extract is a light brown powder with a heavy, earthy, cheesy odor and a bitter taste. The odor comes from isovaleric acid and related volatile esters, and it is strong enough to carry through packaging and into neighboring products. It is insoluble in water, so aqueous systems hold valerian extract only as a suspension that settles without stirring.

For production, handle the powder in a closed system where possible and keep it in a sealed, odor-barrier liner. Sieve before blending to break up soft lumps, and fold valerian extract into part of the carrier. A glidant helps flow, since the lipophilic particles cling to hoppers. Use dedicated scoops and a ventilated area for open drums, and clean the line thoroughly after a run.

The sesquiterpenoid acids are stable at normal processing temperatures, but heat and light speed oxidation of the oily fraction, and the odor then becomes sharper. Compare each lot with a retained sample for color, odor and the acid peaks, and run a stability test in the real formula. A cool, dry store protects the powder, and a sample tested again near the end of shelf life shows whether the packaging holds the marker figure. Taste and odor trials with the final coat or flavor system should use the intended dose, because the valerian note is hard to cover at higher fills and a poor trial wastes a production run.

Packaging & Commercial Supply

Essencefield supports product evaluation, formulation trials, commercial orders, and ongoing ingredient supply. Packaging, storage, and shipping arrangements are determined by product characteristics, order quantity, stability requirements, and destination-market needs.

Supply Item	General Information
Sample	Available upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities	100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead Time	Typically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead Time	Typically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
Packaging	Suitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
Storage	Store in tightly sealed, suitable protective packaging in a cool, dry environment. Protect from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Specific storage conditions follow the approved product specification.
Documentation	COA · Product Specification · TDS · SDS · Applicable declarations (as applicable)

Final order quantities, lead times, packaging, documentation, and shipping arrangements are confirmed according to the selected product and commercial requirements.