Passion flower

A perennial climbing plant that hooks on with its tendrils. A herbaceous plant that disappears completely in winter in cold regions - Alternate leaves held by a downy petiole of 1-2 cm in length - Solitary flowers of 5 to 9 cm diameter, pink or pale purple in colour, topped with a crown of blue-mauve filaments - Edible fruit (oblong-ovoid, greenish-yellow berries) approximately 5 cm in diameter.

Latin name

Passiflora incarnata L.

Origin

The South East of the United States and Mexico.

Used part

The aerial parts.

Active components

Flavonoids (apigenin, chrysin): have an anxiolytic, sedative and hypnotic effect.

Usage

The dried aerial parts of passionflower have a long tradition of use among Native Americans for digestive complaints caused by nervousness, agitation and hypertension. Recent research demonstrates that it helps to calm agitation and aids relaxation. _1-8, However, it can also be used to promote healthy sleep. _9,10

Bibliographical references

Pharmacological studies of Passiflora sp. and their bioactivecompounds
A. G. Ingale and A. U. Hivrale
African Journal of Plant Science Vol. 4(10), pp. 417-426,October, 2010
Aacademic Journals:http://www.academicjournals.org/AJPS/PDF/Pdf2010/Oct/Ingale%20and%20Hivrale.pdf
Attenuation of benzodiazepine dependence in mice by atri-substituted benzoflavone moiety of Passiflora incarnataLinneaus: a non-habit forming anxiolytic.
Dhawan K, Dhawan S, Chhabra S.
J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2003 May-Aug;6(2):215-22.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12935433
Anxiolytic natural and synthetic flavonoid ligands of thecentral benzodiazepine receptor have no effect on memory tasks inrats.
Salgueiro JB, Ardenghi P, Dias M, Ferreira MB, Izquierdo I,Medina JH.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1997 Dec;58(4):887-91.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9408191
Suppression of alcohol-cessation-oriented hyper-anxiety bythe benzoflavone moiety of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus in mice.
Dhawan K, Kumar S, Sharma A.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Jul;81(2):239-44.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12065157
Evaluation of the anxiolytic effects of chrysin, aPassiflora incarnata extract, in the laboratory rat.
Brown E', Hurd NS, McCall S, Ceremuga TE.
AANA J. 2007 Oct;75(5):333-7.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17966676
Behavioural effects of Passiflora incarnata L. and itsindole alkaloid and flavonoid derivatives and maltol in the mouse.
Soulimani R, Younos C, Jarmouni S, Bousta D, Misslin R,Mortier F.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1997 Jun;57(1):11-20.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9234160
Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: apilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam.
Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Vazirian M, Shayeganpour A,Rashidi H, Khani M.
J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001 Oct;26(5):363-7.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11679026
[Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata L.)--a reliableherbal sedative].
Krenn L.
Wien Med Wochenschr. 2002;152(15-16):404-6.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12244887
Neuropharmacological activity of extracts from Passifloraincarnata.
Speroni E, Minghetti A.
Planta Med. 1988 Dec;54(6):488-91.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3212072

10. A double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of theeffects of Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) herbal tea onsubjective sleep quality.
Ngan A, Conduit R.
Phytother Res. 2011 Aug;25(8):1153-9.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21294203

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