The concentration of Valerenic Acid, the principal active constituent of Valerian Root Extract, is generally 0.5-0.8%, and it acts on the nervous system by elevated efficiency of binding to the GABA receptor (34%). Clinical trials have shown that the administration of 600 mg daily can lower the sleep latency by 22 minutes and increase the sleep efficiency by 18% (Phytotherapy Research 2022, sample size n=120). The study also showed that the sesquiterpenoids of the extract inhibited histamine H1 receptor activity by 67%, reduced frequency of night wakefulness by 42%, and extended slow-wave sleep (deep sleep) by 23%. A 2021 double-blind clinical trial at Charite Medical School in Berlin, Germany, found that four weeks of supplementation with Valerian Root Extract reduced the frequency of hot flush-induced sleep disturbance and salivated cortisol surges by 58 percent in menopausal women.
In comparison to production process, supercritical CO2 extraction can increase the extraction rate of valeric acid to 89% in pressure 25 MPa and temperature 45℃, and the residual solvent is less than 0.2 ppm, achieving the FSSC 22000 food safety certification. A Polish company, in 2023, used enzymolysis-membrane separation coupling technology, which reduced the production period to 16 hours from 48 hours, decreased the unit energy consumption by 52%, decreased the cost per kilogram of raw materials to 75 euros, the selling price of terminal capsule product was increased to 230 euros/kg, and gross profit margin became more than 68%. According to market data from Grand View Research, the market value of global valerian root extract increased from $180 million in 2020 to $310 million in 2023 at a 14.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), of which repurchase rate from North American markets was 63%, Amazon customer review analysis demonstrates, 84% of whom gave it an average rating of “less morning drowsiness than benzodiazepines” of 4.6/5 stars.
In terms of application innovation, Valerian Root Extract is added to instant sleeping powders and transdermal patches. In a brand trial of an instant powder with 400 mg extract, EEG delta wave power increased by 41% and sleep quality index (PSQI) decreased by 29% 30 minutes after intake. In 2022, a Japanese firm developed a transdermal patch (5% nano-emulsified valeric acid) that lasts for 8 hours and has the capacity to decrease the time to peak concentration of blood to 1.2 hours (2.5 hours in case of oral administration), and increase the bioavailability to 78%. In cosmetics, 1% valerian root extract night repair cream after 28 days of use, skin barrier capacity (TEWL value) was increased by 37%, stress erythema area decreased by 53%, the data passed ECOCERT organic certification.
The safety assessment found that Valerian Root Extract had an acute oral toxicity LD50>5000 mg/kg (rats) and was approved by the European Union EMA for marketing as a traditional herbal product (THMP) with the highest daily dose of 600 mg. According to the 2023 sampling data globally, the qualified rate of valeric acid content in products on sale within the ±12% label error range was 88.7%, and the main risk was caused by excessive pesticide atrazine (accounting for 61% of unqualified samples). The supply chain’s digital revolution has greatly enhanced quality control: The Bulgarian production base employs near-infrared spectroscopy to track active ingredients in real time, maintaining batch-to-batch variation in valeric acid content within ±5%, and cutting transport losses from 15% to 3.2% with blockchain traceability. Transparency Market Research expects the sleep economy product market including the sales of Valerian Root Extract to exceed $5.4 billion by 2028, justifying the consistent market demand for them as natural remedy for sleep aids.