Wise Mind Herbs

The information on this page has been prepared with reference to published scientific literature, not by a medically qualified expert. It is not medical advice. Any decision to use a supplement or herb-based product is your responsibility. Consult a suitably qualified medical professional, especially if you have underlying conditions. Remember, nothing is for everyone, and not everything sold is what it claims to be. Some things work for some people, some of the time.

Passion flower - Passiflora incarnata

Passiflora, commonly known as passion flower, has a long history of traditional use for various health conditions. Modern scientific research has investigated several species within this genus, with Passiflora incarnata (purple passion flower) being the most extensively studied for medicinal purposes. Other species include Passiflora edulis (passion fruit), Passiflora caerulea (blue passion flower), and Passiflora foetida (wild passion flower).

Image source and license: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Passiflora_incarnata_002.JPG.
Modified by Peter Jorgensen.

Common and Botanical Names

• Passiflora incarnata - Purple passion flower, maypop, true passion flower
• Passiflora edulis - Passion fruit, purple granadilla
• Passiflora caerulea - Blue passion flower, common passion flower
• Passiflora foetida - Wild passion flower, running pop, stinking passion flower
• Passiflora quadrangularis - Giant granadilla

It's important to note that these species are not interchangeable medicinally. Most clinical research has focused specifically on Passiflora incarnata, and the benefits discussed below primarily relate to this species unless otherwise specified.

Therapeutic Applications with Evidence

• Anxiety disorders: Moderate evidence supports the use of Passiflora incarnata for generalized anxiety disorder, with several clinical trials showing efficacy comparable to benzodiazepines but with fewer side effects
• Insomnia: Clinical evidence suggests improvements in sleep quality, sleep latency, and total sleep time
• Pre-operative anxiety: Studies show reduction in anxiety before surgery
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Limited evidence for symptom reduction in children
• Menopausal symptoms: Some evidence for reduction of hot flashes and psychological symptoms
• Opioid withdrawal: Preliminary evidence for managing withdrawal symptoms
• Dental anxiety: Limited evidence for anxiety reduction before dental procedures

Conditions with Preliminary or Insufficient Evidence

• Depression: Animal studies are promising, but human evidence is limited
• Pain management: Some preclinical evidence, but limited clinical trials
• Seizures: Animal studies suggest anticonvulsant properties
• Asthma: Limited evidence from traditional use and preliminary studies
• Hypertension: Some evidence from animal studies, but insufficient human data
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Traditional use for digestive complaints lacks substantial clinical evidence

It's important to note that passion flower does not "cure" any of these conditions but may help alleviate symptoms or be used as an adjunctive treatment.

Active Compounds

The therapeutic effects of Passiflora incarnata are attributed to several bioactive compounds:

• Flavonoids (primarily vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, and isoorientin)
• Alkaloids (harmane, harmine, harmaline)
• Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
• Maltol
• Various polyphenols

Recommended Dosages

• Dried herb (tea): 2-4g daily, divided into 1-3 doses
• Liquid extract (1:1 in 25% alcohol): 0.5-1 mL, three times daily
• Tincture (1:5 in 45% alcohol): 0.5-2 mL, three times daily
• Standardized extract: 250-900 mg daily (standardized to contain 3.5% flavonoids or 0.8% isovitexin)
• For anxiety: Typically 400-800 mg of standardized extract daily
• For insomnia: 300-800 mg of extract 30-60 minutes before bedtime

Most clinical trials have used extracts standardized to contain 3.5-4% flavonoids or specific amounts of isovitexin (0.8-1%).

Side Effects and Safety Concerns

• Common side effects: Drowsiness, dizziness, confusion
• Less common: Nausea, vomiting, altered consciousness, abnormal heart rhythm (rare)
• Allergic reactions: More common in individuals with allergies to plants in the Passifloraceae family
• Pregnancy and lactation: Not recommended due to insufficient safety data and potential uterine-stimulating effects
• Drug interactions: May potentiate effects of sedatives, anxiolytics, and alcohol
• MAO inhibitors: Theoretical interaction with the harmala alkaloids in passion flower
• Anticoagulants: Possible interaction requiring monitoring

Higher Dose Studies

There is limited research on doses significantly above the recommended therapeutic range. A gap in knowledge exists regarding dose-dependent effects and toxicity at higher doses. Animal studies suggest that very high doses may cause sedation, ataxia, and reduced motor coordination, but the equivalent human doses would be substantially higher than typical therapeutic recommendations.

No clear additional benefits have been documented with doses exceeding the upper recommended limits. Conversely, higher doses may increase the risk of side effects, particularly sedation and cognitive impairment. The safety profile of passion flower at doses 3-5 times the therapeutic maximum has not been systematically evaluated in humans.

Pharmaceutical Products

Unlike some herbal medicines, there are relatively few standardized pharmaceutical products containing Passiflora incarnata as the sole active ingredient. However, several combination products include passion flower:

• Pascoflair®: Standardized Passiflora incarnata extract for anxiety and sleep disorders (available in Europe)
• Passiflora Composé®: Homeopathic preparation containing Passiflora
• Neurapas® balance: Combination product containing passion flower, St. John's wort, and valerian (European markets)

In many countries, passion flower is primarily available as dietary supplements, teas, or tinctures rather than regulated pharmaceutical products.

References

Appel, K., Rose, T., Fiebich, B., Kammler, T., Hoffmann, C., & Weiss, G. (2011). Modulation of the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) system by Passiflora incarnata L. Phytotherapy Research, 25(6), 838-843.

Dantas, L. P., de Oliveira-Ribeiro, A., de Almeida-Souza, L. M., & Groppo, F. C. (2016). Effects of passiflora incarnata and midazolam for control of anxiety in patients undergoing dental extraction. Medicina oral, patologia oral y cirugia bucal, 22(1), e95.

Elsas, S. M., Rossi, D. J., Raber, J., White, G., Seeley, C. A., Gregory, W. L., ... & Soumyanath, A. (2010). Passiflora incarnata L.(Passionflower) extracts elicit GABA currents in hippocampal neurons in vitro, and show anxiogenic and anticonvulsant effects in vivo, varying with extraction method. Phytomedicine, 17(12), 940-949.

Garmidolova, A., Halkoglu-Hristova, P. and Georgiev, V., 2025. Exploring the Multifunctionality of Passiflora caerulea L.: From Traditional Remedies to Modern Applications. Applied Sciences, 15(6), p.3251.

Janda, K., Wojtkowska, K., Jakubczyk, K., Antoniewicz, J., & Skonieczna-Żydecka, K. (2020). Passiflora incarnata in neuropsychiatric disorders—a systematic review. Nutrients, 12(12), 3894.

Kim, M., Lim, H. S., Lee, H. H., & Kim, T. H. (2017). Role identification of Passiflora Incarnata Linnaeus: a mini review. Journal of menopausal medicine, 23(3), 156-159.

Movafegh, A., Alizadeh, R., Hajimohamadi, F., Esfehani, F., & Nejatfar, M. (2008). Preoperative oral Passiflora incarnata reduces anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 106(6), 1728-1732.

Ngan, A., & Conduit, R. (2011). A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled investigation of the effects of Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower) herbal tea on subjective sleep quality. Phytotherapy Research, 25(8), 1153-1159.

Nikolova, K., Velikova, M., Gentscheva, G., Gerasimova, A., Slavov, P., Harbaliev, N., ... & Gavrilova, A. (2024). Chemical compositions, pharmacological properties and medicinal effects of genus Passiflora L.: A review. Plants, 13(2), 228.

Nojoumi, M., Ghaeli, P., Salimi, S., Sharifi, A., & Raisi, F. (2016). Effects of Passion Flower Extract, as an Add-on Treatment to Sertraline, on Reaction Time in Patients‎ with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: a Double-blind Placebo-Controlled Study. Iranian journal of psychiatry, 11(3), 191.

Zhang, J., Tao, S., Hou, G., Zhao, F., Meng, Q. and Tan, S., 2023. Phytochemistry, nutritional composition, health benefits and future prospects of Passiflora: A review. Food Chemistry, 428, p.136825.