A caryophyllane-type sesquiterpene, caryophyllenol A from Valeriana amurensis

• The petroleum ether part of Valeriana Amurensis showed strong a sedative effect.
• Thirteen compounds including two new sesquiterpenoids were isolated.
• X-ray crystallography was used to confirm the structure of caryophyllenol A.
• The sedative activity of the compounds was evaluated with Drosophila melanogaster.
• We report the active constituents of Valeriana amurensis for improving sleep.

A new caryophyllane derivative, caryophyllenol A, and a new germacrane derivative, isovolvalerenal D, together with 11 known sesquiterpenoids, were isolated from a petroleum ether partition of the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana amurensis. Structure elucidation of caryophyllenol A and isovolvalerenal D was accomplished on the basis of various spectroscopic techniques including HRESIMS and 2D NMR analyses. The structure of caryophyllenol A was further confirmed by X-ray crystallography and using quantum-chemical ECD calculation adopting TDDFT method. Caryophyllenol A and other eight sesquiterpenoids were evaluated for sedative activity with the model of Drosophila melanogaster, and eight of them showed the effect of prolonging the total sleeping time (TST) of D. melanogaster, displaying significant sedative action.

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