Valeriana wallichii DC, a new chemotype from northwestern Himalaya

The major constituents of the oils from roots and rhizomes of Valeriana wallichii DC were separated and characterized by GC, GUMS and NMR (H-1- and C-13-). The chemical compositions of the oils show two chemotypes within Valeriana wallichii. The type-I was characterized by presence of maaliol (64.3%), viridiflorol (7.2%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (19.2%). The type-II contained patchouli alcohol (40.2%), viridiflorol (5.2%),8-acetoxy-patchouli alcohol (4.5%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (34.5%). Viridiflorol and 8-acetoxy-patchouli alcohol have been isolated from V wallichii for the first time. Since the V wallichii is being commercially used even today in Nepal and India as a substitute for V officinalis, the sharp chemical differences among V wallichii materials necessitates their identification before commercial exploitation for phytomedicines and flavor chemicals.