Powdered Valerian
» Powdered Valerian is Valerian reduced to a fine or a very fine powder. It contains no calcium oxalate crystals and no foreign starch granules. It contains not less than 0.3 percent of volatile oil and not less than 0.04 percent of valerenic acid (C15H22O2).
Packaging and storage—
Preserve in well-closed containers, protected from light and moisture, and store at room temperature.
Labeling—
The label states the Latin binomial and, following the official name, the parts of the plant from which the article was derived.
Botanic characteristics—
Diagnostic structures:
Numerous fragments of parenchyma cells containing globules of volatile oil and starch granules; fragments of scalariform and reticulate thickened vessels and tracheids and strongly lignified narrow fibers; fragments of periderm and of piliferous layer with root hairs; numerous starch granules, rarely simple, mostly compounds of 2 to 6 components, spheroidal, plano-convex, 3 to 20, mostly 8 to 12 µm in diameter with a central hilum, the starch granules being 7 to 30 µm in diameter.
Water content, Method Ia 
921
:
not more than 5.0%.
921:
not more than 5.0%.
Heavy metals 231:
not more than 0.005%.
231:
not more than 0.005%.
Other requirements—
It responds to the Identification tests and meets the requirements of the tests for Total ash, Acid-insoluble ash, Extractable matter, Pesticide residues, and Microbial enumeration under Valerian.
Volatile oil 561:
not less than 0.3%, a 100-g test specimen being used.
561:
not less than 0.3%, a 100-g test specimen being used.
Content of valerenic acid—
Proceed as directed for Content of valerenic acid under Valerian: not less than 0.04% is found.
Auxiliary Information—
Please check for your question in the FAQs before contacting USP.
| Topic/Question | Contact | Expert Committee |
| Monograph | Maged H. Sharaf, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist 1-301-816-8318 |
(DSB05) Dietary Supplements - Botanicals |
| Reference Standards | Lili Wang, Technical Services Scientist 1-301-816-8129 RSTech@usp.org |
USP32–NF27 Page 1082
Pharmacopeial Forum: Volume No. 32(2) Page 395