Valerian and Passionflower Sleep Capsules

This is a two-extract finished blend, not a single botanical, and the two halves are controlled on completely different marker chemistry. Valerian is the dried rhizome, roots and stolons of Valeriana officinalis L. (Caprifoliaceae, formerly placed in Valerianaceae), traded pharmacopoeially as Valerianae radix. The European Pharmacopoeia sets the root at not less than 0.17% sesquiterpenic acids expressed as valerenic acid (CAS 3569-10-6, C15H22O2, MW 234.33) and not less than 4 mL per kg of essential oil; the root also carries 0.1-2.0% valepotriates, dominated by valtrate and isovaltrate, and free sesquiterpenic acids such as valerenic and hydroxyvalerenic acid that have not been detected in any other Valeriana species and therefore anchor identity. Dry valerian extracts in European practice are made with ethanol at 40-70% v/v. Passionflower is the dried aerial part of Passiflora incarnata L. (Passifloraceae), traded as Passiflorae herba and controlled on C-glycosylated flavonoids rather than terpenes. The British and French Pharmacopoeias set the dried herb at a minimum of 1.5% total flavonoids expressed as vitexin (CAS 3681-93-4, C21H20O10, MW 432.4); the EMA assessment report notes that hydroalcoholic or acetone extracts may contain at least 2.0% flavonoids as vitexin, with typical daily intakes corresponding to roughly 20-30 mg of total flavonoids. The flavonoid set includes vitexin, isovitexin, schaftoside, isoschaftoside, orientin and iso-orientin, and the ratio between them is species-diagnostic: isovitexin runs high in P. incarnata, which is how substitution with P. edulis or P. alata is caught. Because both genera have close commercial look-alikes, incoming material is verified by macroscopic examination plus TLC and HPLC before blending, specifically to exclude Valeriana wallichii (Indian valerian, a different article with different chemistry) and off-species Passiflora. The blend ratio, extract ratios and solvents are set by the buyer and locked into the specification, and the certificate of analysis reports each botanical's marker independently so a formulator can reconcile label declarations for both. Shells are HPMC as standard, keeping the pack vegan; bovine gelatin is available on request and must be declared. The fill contains no milk, egg, soy, fish, crustacean, gluten, peanut or tree nut material. Regulatory status for both botanicals varies by market, and permitted use levels and label wording remain the brand owner's responsibility in the country of sale.