Neuropharmacological Potential of a Combined Herbal Preparation of Valeriana officinalis L. and Leonurus sibiricus L.

Introduction: Neuropsychiatric disorders are a global health burden. The World Health Organization estimates that 264 million individuals experience anxiety, 50 million experience epilepsy, and up to 30% of adults experience insomnia. Despite the high reliance on conventional medicine in developing nations, a critical shortage of scientifically validated herbal formulations for these conditions exists. We aimed to evaluate the neuropharmacological potential of a novel combined herbal preparation (CHP) derived from Valeriana officinalis L. (roots) and Leonurus sibiricus L. (aerial parts). Methods: Acute oral toxicity was assessed in C57BL/6 mice. Subchronic toxicity was evaluated in Wistar rats following the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guideline 407, with daily oral administration of CHP at doses of 1,000 and 1,500 mg/kg for 28 days. Sedative and locomotor effects were quantified. Hypnotic efficacy was assessed, and anticonvulsant activity was measured against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures. Results: CHP demonstrated an excellent safety profile with an LD50 of 7,483 mg/kg, classifying it as “practically nontoxic.” No signs of subchronic toxicity were observed. In the open-field test, doses of 750 and 1,000 mg/kg significantly suppressed locomotor activity. The preparation significantly enhanced hypnotic effects by shortening sleep latency and prolonging total sleep duration. Furthermore, CHP exerted notable anticonvulsant activity compared with the control group. Conclusions: Combining V. officinalis and L. sibiricus provides a safe and effective botanical synergy with potent sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant properties. Therefore, CHP is a promising therapeutic candidate for managing anxiety, insomnia, and epilepsy, warranting further clinical investigation into its underlying GABAergic or serotonergic mechanisms.