Family : Valerianaceae

English : Indian Valerian

Hindi : Mushkbala, Sugandhabala

Gujarati : Tagar

Sanskrit : Kalanusari, Nata

Part used : Root

Botanical Description: A slightly hairy, tufted perennial herb upto 45cm high, rootstock horizontal, thick with- descending fibers. Leaves mostly radical, often crowded 2.5 – 7.5 cm diam, long stalked, deeply cordate-ovate, usually toothed or sinute, cauline leaves few, much smaller, entire or pinnate. Flowers white or tinged with pink, in terminal corymbs, dioecious. Fruit oblong, compressed, hairy or glabrous. Flowering and Fruiting from March to June.

It is found throughout India.

Modern Pharmacological Action: The methanolic extract from roots of Valeriana wallichii showed a good inhibition against all the bacterial strains tested .The gram (+) bacteria were sensitive with gram (-) bacteria and some common fungi. They also help against Cardiovascular Conditions and Gastrointestinal Conditions.