In this study the essential oil and pharmacologically active components of different valerian species (Valeriana fauriei var. dasycarpa Hara and V. officinalis L. from Korea and V. wallichii DC from Nepal) were analyzed to search for native plant resources that can be used for medicinal herb and tobacco flavoring. The oil contents in dry roots of V. fauriei, V. officinalis and V. walhchii were 1. 71%, 0. 82% and 0. 83 %, respectively. The composition of the essential oil among different valerian species was compared. In V. fauriei 47 compounds were identified, while 21 and 25 compounds were identified in V. officinalis and V. wallichii. The major compounds in the oil of V. fauriei were bornyl acetate (33.8%) and camphene (10.8%), cedrol (4. 1 %), -pinene (3. 2%) and unidentified sesquiterpene alcohol (3. 0%). The major compounds were borneol (62. 5%) and ${eta}-sesquiphelandrene$(6. 8%) and spathulenol (2. 1%) in V. officinalis, and borneol (74. 3%) and ${alpha}-elemene$ (2.7%) and -sesquiphellandrene (2. 3%) in V. wallichii. Among the components known as major pharmacologically active compounds in European or Japanese valerian roots, valeranone, valerenal and -kessyl acetate was detected in a small amount in V. fauriei, but kessoglycol diacetate was not detected in V. faudei and V. officinalis Among the valepotrate compounds, major pharmacologically active components in V. wallichii, valtrate was detected in a small amount in V. fauriei and V. officinalis., and detected 1. 42% in V. wallichii. Didrovaltrate was also detected in the three valerian species tested, but acevaltrate was not detected except V. wallichii. On the other hand, antioxidative activity was slightly higher in V. fauriei than those of V. officinalis.