Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.), and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) are among the most widely used medicinal plants in European phytotherapy, with well-documented traditional use for anxiety, insomnia, cognitive decline, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Parkinson's disease. This narrative review critically analyses available clinical, pharmacological, toxicological, and regulatory data on these three species in the context of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library; regulatory documents from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) were also included. Valerian showed the most consistent clinical evidence for an improvement in sleep quality and reduction in anxiety. Passionflower demonstrated anxiolytic and mild sedative effects in several controlled trials. Ginkgo showed clinically relevant benefits in mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and vertigo. All three plants exhibited acceptable safety profiles at the recommended doses; however, significant drug interactions were identified, notably ginkgo's inhibition of CYP2C19 and antiplatelet effects, and valerian's potentiation of CNS depressants. Regulatory frameworks across EU member states remain inconsistent. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized extract characterization are needed.

The colonization of land by plants was a major transition in the history of life, fundamentally reshaping the evolution of terrestrial organisms and Earth's ecosystems. Plants are hosts to an enormous diversity of viruses, but the origins and evolution of these viruses are not thoroughly understood. In this study, we mined the transcriptomes and genomes of 2402 species sampled across the plant kingdom and discovered about 35 000 plant-associated RNA viruses, including several potential families not described previously, resulting in a 2.2-fold increase in the known plant-associated RNA virus diversity, greatly expanding the virus host ranges, and revealing many groups of atypical, apparently persistent viruses. Phylogenetic analysis shows that plant viruses emerged on numerous independent occasions, mostly via horizontal virus transfer facilitated by close ecological associations of plants with other terrestrial organisms, such as invertebrates and fungi. Collectively, our work substantially expands the known diversity of plant RNA viruses, provides a major resource for studying plant RNA virome, and contributes to understanding the origins and natural history of plant RNA viruses.

Burns are one of the most devastating traumatic injuries, and in cases of advanced burns, patients require urgent and specialized care to minimize mortality. Studies have shown that a variety of herbal medicines and nanoparticles can be used to treat burn wounds. Among them mixture of Eisenia fetida oil, valerian, and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles can be a good choice due to their healing properties. This study aimed to synthesize an ointment based on Eisenia fetida oil, Valeriana officinalis, and zinc oxide to investigate its effect on skin wound healing. The hemocompatibility and biocompatibility of the designed ointment were evaluated using blood clotting index (BCI), hemolysis test, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. The antibacterial effects of the designed ointment were evaluated using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill tests. Finally, the healing ability of the designed ointment was evaluated in a rat model by creating a 3 × 3 cm burn wound. Wound healing was evaluated after 14 days by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Verhoeff-Van Gieson (VVG) staining. The results showed that the addition of Valeriana officinalis and zinc oxide to Eisenia fetida oil improved hemocompatibility, biocompatibility, improved cell migration, and improved antibacterial properties. Additionally, the results of H&E and VVG staining demonstrated the good efficacy of the designed ointment in increasing epidermal thickness, promoting angiogenesis, and enhancing collagen and elastin fibers. These results indicate the potential of the designed ointment as a promising tool for skin wound healing and clinical trials.

Valeriana jatamansi (Indian valerian), a vital but endangered Himalayan plant, exhibits extreme chemical heterogeneity that undermines its clinical reliability and current pharmacopoeial standards. This systematic review (1979-May 2026; 312 studies) delineates five distinct chemotypes (OPLS-DA > 92%) defined by compositional extremes of patchouli alcohol (0.4-63.7%), maaliol (2.9-53.8%), valepotriates (1.8-2.4% Dry Weight), bornyl esters (10-20%) or sesquiterpenes (50-80%), driving 15-35% batch bioactivity variability. Mechanistically, valepotriates positively modulate GABA_A receptors (EC50 3-10 μM), while 6-methylapigenin targets the benzodiazepine site (IC50 0.3 μM). A meta-analysis of 12 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) (n > 1500) confirms clinically meaningful improvements in insomnia (PSQI Δ3.8 ± 1.2 > MCID) and anxiety (SMD = -0.72). Crucially, this chemical diversity is therapeutically exploitable. We propose a chemotype-directed multi-marker bioactivity index combined with DNA barcoding to reduce batch variability below 10%, addressing IUCN 'Vulnerable' status (40-70% population decline) and transforming a conservation crisis into a foundation for evidence-based, sustainable phytomedicine.

Nanoemulsions are increasingly recognized as promising delivery systems for essential oils in functional products due to their ability to protect sensitive bioactives. Valerian essential oil (VEO) contains valuable bioactives with notable functional properties; however, its volatility and instability limit its direct incorporation into aqueous environments. This study investigated the preparation of oil-in-water nanoemulsions containing 1.5% (w/w) VEO using two high-energy emulsification techniques, ultrasonication (US) and microfluidization (MF), in phosphate buffer (PB) or distilled water (DW) as dispersion media. Samples were characterized in terms of particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and physical stability. The most stable sample was further evaluated under environmental stress, including varying ionic strength (up to 150 mM NaCl) and pH (4-8). In the formulation prepared in PB using US (US-PB), smaller particle sizes were observed compared to those prepared using MF (MF-PB) (136.4 ± 0.12 vs. 146.5 ± 0.26 nm), showing a similar trend in both formulations prepared in DW (US-DW and MF-DW) (139 ± 4.57 vs. 142.4 ± 0.47 nm). All samples remained monodispersed (PDI < 0.3). Zeta potential values indicated stronger stabilization in formulations prepared in PB (-56.89 ± 1.61 mV for US-PB and -50.16 ± 5.34 mV for MF-PB) compared with DW (-22.93 ± 5.68 mV for US-DW and -26.17 ± 7.90 mV for MF-DW). Lumisizer analysis showed slightly higher stability for US-PB (instability index 0.37) compared with MF-PB (0.40), whereas DW systems were less stable (0.67 and 0.54 for US-DW and MF-DW, respectively). Formulations prepared in PB, particularly US-PB exhibited the highest entrapment efficiency (> 88%). At 150 mM NaCl concentration and pH 4.0, US-PB stability decreased due to reduced zeta potential and electrostatic repulsion, whereas it remained stable at pH 8.0.