Anesthetic drugs are widely used aquaculture farms and can create consumption problems for humans, so there is a great need to safer drugs. With regard to long record of herbal drugs consumption in Iran and their benefits, we survey the possibility of using Valerian officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Papaver somniferum, and Papaver bracteatum as fish anesthetic. We provided, processed, and made consistent extractions of Valerian officinalis (2, 3 4 g/lit), Melissa officinalis (5, 10, 15 g/lit), Papaver somniferum (0.85, 1.6, 3.2 g/lit) and Papaver bracteatum (0.3, 0.6, 0.9 g/lit). We selected 60 goldfish Carassius auratus in the weight range of 7.41±0/2 g, and the length range of 8.4±0/11cm and kept them in laboratory conditions under the same oxygen and temperature. The fish were divided into four groups each containing 15 fish and further into three subgroups of five fish each. During the experiments, two herbs Parpaver somniferum and Papaver bracteaturn were eliminated from statistical analysis because of biased results. We found a significant correlation between the required time to reach level 4 of anesthesia and recovery using Melissa officinalis (P<0.01). The required time to reach the level 4 of anesthesia and recovery using 10 and 15g1/it dosages of Melissa officinalis was significantly lower than 3 and 4g/lit dosages of Valerian officinalis (P<0.05).

Valerian is one of the most important herbs in Iran. Regarding the importance of this plant in traditional and industrial medicine, in this research, optimization of tissue culture, callus induction, and regeneration of whole plant from two types of leaf and petiole explants were evaluated on various hormone combinations. The results showed that the leaf segment is more suitable for callugenesis in both light and dark conditions. The highest amount of callus was obtained in light conditions for the leaf explant cultured on the medium containing 0. 5 mg/L BAP and 1 mg/L BAP. Dark-induced calli did not show the potential to shoot regeneration on tested media containing different concentrations of BAP and TDZ, and only callus growth and root formation was observed. The light-induced calli from the leaf explants had a good potential to regenerate shoots on the regeneration medium. Maximum mean number of shoots was observed in the regeneration medium containing 3 mg/L BAP. These results provided basic information on the effects of some physical and chemical factors on the tissue culture and regeneration of Valerian. Also, we introduce an efficient system for shoot regeneration in this plant that can be used in molecular breeding programs using genetic engineering techniques.

Introduction: Concerns have been raised about the toxic effects of medicinal plants due to their increased consumption. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the hepatotoxic effects of aqueous extract of valerian in laboratory mice. Methods: After preparation of plant materials and aqueous extract of valerian, concentrations of 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight were administered to laboratory mice for 14 days. On the day 14th, blood samples were taken from the hearts of mice after anesthesia and the serum levels of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were studied. Furthermore, the animals' weight was recorded at 0, 7 and 14 days and weight changes were also studied. Results: The results of the present study showed the concentration-dependent effects of aqueous extract of valerian on increasing serum levels of liver enzymes such as ALT, AST, ALP and GGT and the highest serum levels of these enzymes were observed at a concentration of 20 mg/kg. Moreover, the concentration of 20 mg/kg aqueous extract of valerian caused severe weight loss in mice over a period of 14 days. Conclusion: In general, it was concluded that a concentration of 20 mg/kg causes liver damage. However, low concentrations of 10 mg/kg valerian extract showed no toxic effects on the liver. Therefore, in the formulations prepared from valerian, attention to the concentration of the extract is very important and the use of lower concentrations to prevent hepatotoxicity is very important.

The effects of valerian, Valerian officinalis, and clove, Eugenia caryophylla, extracts as anesthetic chemicals were investigated on Panga siussutchi (12.95±0.92 mm, 16.85 ± 3.52 g). The fish were divided in 6 groups, each including 5 individuals and exposed to various concentrations (2, 3 and 4 g/lit) of clove and/or valerian extract. The mean time to induce sedition, the mean time to return and the mean number of opercular gill pulses to sedate and recover were measured. For both groups, the mean time to sedation was decreased by increasing the dose of the extract. In general, the mean time to onset of anesthesia for clove group was significantly lower than valerian. The mean number of opercular gill pulses during the sedation time was not significantly changed between different dose of clove, while it declined significantly by elevating the valerian doses (p<0.05). There was no mortality in both groups.Although V. officinalis extract could cause sedation in the fish, it needed relatively longer time to affect than clove, so it may not be a useful compound for sedation in P. siussutchi.

Different studies showed that the root of Valerian officinaliscontains free amino acid like GABA and other material like Valeric acid and Isovalerat. Also showed that GABA, Valeric acid and Isovalerat had anticonvulsant effects in animal seizure models. In traditional medicine anticonvulsant effect of Valerian officinalisis reminded. In this study anticonvulsant effect of Valerian officinalis using standard method of making chemical seizure with PTZ in mice, was studied. After measuring seizure threshold with PTZ in control group, different doses of Valerian officinalis (0.25, 0.5, 1 g/kg) orally administrated. Results showed that the PTZ seizure threshold was 35.52 0.85 mg/kg in control group. In animals pretreated with Valerian officinalis the PTZ seizure threshold showed dose dependently increased (p<0.05). In conclusion results showed that: the mechanism of anticonvulsant effect of Valerian officinalis probably is via GABAergic effect of this agent. This subject needs to be more investigation in human.

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of bio and chemical fertilizers on yield and production factors of valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) at the Homad-Absard Agricultural Complex in Damavand city, Tehran Province, Iran, through a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete blocks design with 3 replications during 2017 to 2020. Experimental factors consist Nitroxin and Phosphate Barvar2 biofertilizers each with 2 levels of inoculation and control, and also the urea (46% N) chemical fertilizer in 5 levels (0, 30, 60, 90 and 150 kg/ha). Measured parameters were root diameter (mm), root length (cm), leaf width (cm) and leaf length (cm) root dry weight (kg/ha), shoot dry weight (kg/ha), valernic acid content (%) and valernic acid yield (g/ha). Results showed that the biofertilizers had significant effect (p≤ 0.01) on the all quantity and quality parameters studied. Unlike the urea chemical fertilizer at all levels which had a negative effect on the yield and amount of valernic acid (%), biofertilizers increased it. Maximum and minimum amount of valernic acid (%) were measured in control (0.465%) and 150 kg/ha urea (0.215%) respectively. The highest and lowest root dry weight were obtained in interaction of Nitroxin+Phosphate barvar2 + 150 kg urea (665 kg/ha) and control (221 kg/ha) respectively. Results of this experiment showed that biofertilizers with positive effects on experimental parameters are able to replace the chemical fertilizers.