Seasonal variation of bioactive components in Valeriana jatamansi from Himachal Pradesh, India

Valeriana jatamansi Jones. syn. V. wallichii DC (Indian valerian) is an aromatic as well as medicinal crop. It is commercially used as a substitute for V. officinalis. The valepotriates, mostly from its underground parts, possess tranquillising property. The present studies were conducted during 2001-2006 in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh in the Indian western Himalaya to study seasonal variation of plant growth, and content of enriched fraction of valepotriates and essential oil in its underground parts. The studies were conducted with V. jatamansi cultivar Himbala raised under natural shade. Fresh weight of underground parts and length of root were significantly higher during July and August, the time of maximum rains in the study area. However, dry matter in underground parts was maximum in October. Enriched fraction of valepotriates in underground parts ranged from 2.0 to 5.6%. Enriched fraction of valepotriates was significantly lower during February to June (2.4-3.6%), the time of flowering and fruiting in the crop, and was significantly higher during January, October and November (5.4, 4.7 and 4.9%, respectively). Essential oil in the underground parts ranged from 0.1 to 0.5% and was significantly higher during March to June (0.3-0.4%) attaining its peak in June (0.4%). Estimate of yield of enriched fraction of valepotriates indicated that November or January is the ideal time to harvest V. jatamansi for enriched fraction of valepotriates production, while May is appropriate harvesting time for production of essential oil in western Himalayan region in India.