Isolation of Monovalerianester A, an Inhibitor of Fat Accumulation, from Valeriana fauriei.

The rhizomes and roots of Valeriana fauriei were extracted with 80% aqueous ethanol. This extract was found to exhibit potent inhibitory effects on fat accumulation in 3T3-LI murine adipocytes. After several steps of chromatographic purification, we succeeded in identifying monovalerianester A as an inhibitor of fat accumulation. Thus, monovalerianester A and the crude extract of the rhizomes and roots of V. fauriei may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of obesity.