Biology, chemical diversity, agronomy, conservation and industrial importance of Valeriana jatamansi: A natural sedative

Valeriana jatamansi Jones (Indian valerian) is an important temperate herb, which serves as a source of raw material for pharmaceutical and perfumery industries. This wild herb is nature's gift to tribal communities for recovering various diseases. However, in India, this species is now at the verge of extinction due to over-exploitation of its rhizomes from its natural habitat to meet the burgeoning demand. Nowadays, the herb is considered highly valuable after identifying many bioactive compounds in its essential oil which can be extracted from different parts like leaf, root, and rhizome. However, accumulation of essential oil occurs in the underground part, which has demand in pharmaceutical as well as perfumery industries. This wild herb becomes one of the important medicinal and aromatic plants for researchers. For sustainable production and supply to the market/herbal industries, various efforts are made for its conservation, whereas agricultural practices hold a sole position to confront the sustainability challenge. Simultaneously, various researches on this herb are being conducted in regards to its agrotechnology. This article summarizes the botanical description including anatomy, genetic and chemical diversity, crop ecology for its commercial cultivation, uses and prospect in aromatic and pharmaceutical industries as per industrial demand and conservation point of view.