Valerian composition and related methods

1. A composition comprising a therapeutically effective oral pharmaceutical dosage form including valerian within an acidified polymer matrix, the acidified polymer matrix including an acidifying agent and a hydrogel-forming polymer blended together, the acidifying agent being in an amount sufficient to impart a pH of 2 to 5 to the acidified polymer matrix;

the acidifying agent including at least one acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, phosphoric acid, and hydrochloric acid;

the hydrogel forming polymer including at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a carboxymethylcellulose, a methylcellulose, a hydroxypropylcellulose, a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, a hyaluronate, an alginate, a pectin, a poloxamer, a poloxamine, an ethylene vinyl acetate, a polyethylene glycol, a dextran, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a chitosan, a polyvinylalcohol, a propylene glycol, a polyvinylacetate, a polylactic acid, and a polyhydroxybutyric acid;

the pharmaceutical dosage form being selected from a tablet and a capsule;

wherein the amount of acidifying agent makes the pharmaceutical dosage form storage stable by reducing degradation of the valerian when the pharmaceutical dosage form is stored at 25 degrees C. and 60% relative humidity.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the amount of acidifying agent is sufficient to impart a pH of 3 to 5 to the hydrogel-forming polymer matrix.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical dosage form includes:

an expedited release portion including 5% to 50% of the valerian in the pharmaceutical dosage form, the expedited release portion being effective to release the valerian therein within 2 hours from placement in a 0.1 N HCl solution; and

a sustained release portion including a remainder of the valerian in the pharmaceutical dosage form, the sustained release portion being effective to release the valerian therein from at least 2 to within 10 hours from placement in a phosphate buffer with a pH of 6.8.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical dosage form includes 150 mg to 250 mg of valerian.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein:

valerian is 15% w/w to 45% w/w of the pharmaceutical dosage form;

the acidifying agent is 1% w/w to 20% w/w of the pharmaceutical dosage form; and

the hydrogel-forming polymer is 1% w/w to 15% w/w of the pharmaceutical dosage form.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the acidifying agent is citric acid and the hydrogel-forming polymer is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

7. A composition comprising a solid oral pharmaceutical dosage form comprising:

15% w/w to 45% w/w valerian;

1% w/w to 20% w/w acidifying agent; and

1% w/w to 15% w/w of a pharmaceutically acceptable hydrogel-forming polymer;

wherein the valerian and acidifying agent are blended together in a matrix of the hydrogel-forming polymer, the acidifying agent being in an amount sufficient to impart a pH of 2 to 5 to the matrix;

the acidifying agent including at least one acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, phosphoric acid, and hydrochloric acid;

the hydrogel forming polymer including at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a carboxymethylcellulose, a methylcellulose, a hydroxypropylcellulose, a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, a hyaluronate, an alginate, a pectin, a poloxamer, a poloxamine, an ethylene vinyl acetate, a polyethylene glycol, a dextran, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a chitosan, a polyvinylalcohol, a propylene glycol, a polyvinylacetate, a polylactic acid, and a polyhydroxybutyric acid;

the pharmaceutical dosage form being selected from a tablet and a capsule;

wherein the amount of acidifying agent makes the pharmaceutical dosage form storage stable by reducing degradation of the valerian when the pharmaceutical dosage form is stored at 25 degrees C. and 60% relative humidity.

8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the amount of acidifying agent is sufficient to impart a pH of 3 to 5 to the hydrogel-forming polymer.

9. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the pharmaceutical dosage form includes:

an expedited release portion including 5% to 50% of the valerian in the pharmaceutical dosage form, the expedited release portion being effective to release the valerian therein within 2 hours from placement in a 0.1 N HCl solution; and

a sustained release portion including a remainder of the valerian in the pharmaceutical dosage form, the sustained release portion being effective to release the valerian therein from at least 2 to within 10 hours from placement in a phosphate buffer with a pH of 6.8.

10. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the pharmaceutical dosage form includes 150 mg to 250 mg of valerian.

11. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the acidifying agent is citric acid and the hydrogel-forming is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.