What's in passiflora incarnata herb?
A tri-substituted benzoflavone moiety has been isolated from the bioactive
methanol extract of passiflora, which has been proposed to be responsible for
the biological activities of this plant. Passiflora also contains flavonoids, sterols, cholorogenic
acid, volatile oil, and traces of indole alkaloids (including
(harman, harmin, harmalin, harmol, and harmalol).
The major flavonoids isolated from passiflora incarnata are identified as
orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, and schaftoside.
What are some of the benefits of this natural plant?
Passiflora herb is useful to induce relaxation. It is helpful
in some people in reducing restlessness, anxiety, and nervousness. It also has
mild anti-cough properties.
Other herbs that are used to relieve stress include
ashwagandha,
kava, and valerian. Nutrients
that help with anxiety or stress are
5-HTP and tryptophan amino
acid.
Passiflora and anxiety, reducing stress
Passiflora may be helpful in reducing restlessness, anxiety, and nervousness. It
also has anti-cough properties. The methanol extracts of leaves, stems, flowers,
and whole plant exhibit anxiolytic effects. The roots are practically devoid of anxiolytic effects. This means the
leaves seem to contain the most concentration of the active ingredients.
A double-blind randomized trial compared the efficacy of passiflora
incarnata extract with oxazepam in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. The
study was performed on 36 out-patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety
disorder allocated in a random fashion:
18 to the passiflora extract 45 drops/day plus placebo tablet group, and 18 to oxazepam 30
mg/day plus placebo drops for a 4-week trial. Both
were effective in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. No significant difference
was observed between the two protocols at the end of trial. Oxazepam showed a rapid onset
of action. On the other hand, significantly more problems relating to impairment of job
performance were encountered with subjects on oxazepam. The results suggest
that passiflora extract is an effective drug for the management of generalized anxiety
disorder, and the low incidence of impairment of job performance with Passiflora extract
compared to oxazepam is an advantage.
Passiflora in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind
randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. Tehran University of Medical Sciences, South Kargar Avenue,
Tehran, Iran.
J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001.
J Anesthesiology. 2012. Passiflora incarnata Linneaus as an anxiolytic before spinal anesthesia. Oral preoperative administration suppresses the increase in anxiety before spinal anesthesia without changing psychomotor function test results, sedation level, or hemodynamics.
Passion Flower -- a reliable herbal sedative
Wien Med Wochenschr. 2002.
Extracts and fluid extracts from the aerial parts from passiflora incarnata
are widely used as components of herbal sedatives. Many pharmacological
investigations confirm the sedative effects. From some of
the studies also anxiolytic effects can be deduced. Based on pharmacological data, the experiences of traditional use and the use in
combinations passiflora extracts are an important factor in the phytotherapy of
tenseness, restlessness and irritability with difficulty in falling asleep.
Cough
Passiflora has the ability to suppress
cough.
Aphrodisiac activity of methanol extract of leaves of Passiflora incarnata in mice.
Phytother Res. 2003.
The aphrodisiac properties of the methanol extract of leaves have been evaluated in mice by observing the mounting behavior.
The methanol extract of Passiflora incarnata exhibited significant
aphrodisiac
behavior in male mice.
Beneficial effects of chrysin and benzoflavone on virility in 2-year-old
male rats.
J Med Food. 2002.
This work describes the potential usefulness of bioflavonoids for countering
the deleterious effects of aging on male sexuality in 2-year-old rats. A flavone
chrysin
from passiflora caerulea and a benzoflavone moiety recently
isolated from passiflora incarnata were administered to 2-year-old male
rats for a period of 30 days. After cessation of these treatments, there was a
significant improvement in overall sexual functions in the rats given bioflavonoids, compared with control rats. The rats receiving chrysin
and BZF exhibited increased libido when they were allowed to interact
with nonestrous female rats. Additionally, both treated groups had increased
sperm count, greater fertilization potential, and greater litter size when they
were allowed to interact with proven proestrous female rats of a similar strain.
BZF was more potent than chrysin as an antiaromatase agent and exhibited better
effects on the sexual system of the 2-year-old male rats.
Sedative, sleep
Pharmacological studies on the sedative and hypnotic
effect of Kava kava and Passiflora extracts combination.
Phytomedicine. 2005.
1st Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno, Italy.
Kava kava extract, passiflora extract and a combination of both extracts,
administered to mice, caused a significant decrease of the amphetamine-induced
hypermotility and significant prolongation of sleeping phase induced by
subcutaneous injection of barbiturates. Due to a synergism of both extracts,
simultaneously administered the pharmacologically registered effect in both in
vivo experiments was found to be superior over the sum of the single separately
administered extracts.
Q. My wife is 64 y.o and experiencing anxiety and
difficulty in falling asleep. She takes Brotizolam 0.25mg nightly, but
would like to switch to something which is not addictive. I purchased
Passiflora incarnata powder. According to the Certificate of Analysis it
is 10:1 extract ratio. Can you advise me as to the dosage? I read that
200 mg caps. are recommended. Should I have it encapsulated or, can it
be taken as a warm drink.
A. This herb is not a potent sleep inducer but it can be taken as a
capsule or as tea a few hours before bed to help with relaxation.
Antioxidant activity
Antiradical activities of the extract of Passiflora incarnata.
Acta Pol Pharm. 2008.
The objective of this work was to investigate the aqueous and ethanolic extracts
of Passiflora incarnata and the influence of the flavonoids they contain. The
data show that it has not only sedative but also antioxidant
activity. The ethanol extract catches free radicals more effectively than the
water extract. The strongest antiradical effect among the investigated flavonoids (chlorogenic acid, hyperosid, isovitexin, caffeic
acid, quercetin, luteolin, orentin, rutin, scutelarein, vicenin and vitexin) was
predetermined by vicenin, isovitexin and orentin. The antiradical activity
increases with the increase of the concentration of the mentioned materials.
Dosage
Passiflora can be used as a tea, 2 to 5 grams of the dried herb two to three
times a day (one teaspoon is usually about 2 to 3 grams). Passiflora is also available
as fluid or tincture extract (follow directions on the bottle). Capsules of the dried
herbal extract are available from 200 mg, taken as needed on daily. Passionflower
is often combined with valerian and other sedative herbs.
Passiflora
side effects
No significant side effects have yet been reported in studies
except for anecdotal reports, but long term studies are not yet available.
Sedation is of course one of the side effects.
Toxicity of Passiflora incarnata
J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2000.
A 34-year-old female developed severe nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, prolonged
QTc, and episodes of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia following
self-administration of a herbal remedy, passiflora incarnata L., at therapeutic
doses. The possible association of symptoms with passiflora was not recognized
for several days. She required hospital admission for cardiac monitoring and
intravenous fluid therapy. Passiflora incarnata was associated with significant
adverse effects in this patient. It is important to ask specifically about the
use of herbal medicines in patients with undiagnosed illnesses.
Passiflora extract and opiate withdrawal
Passiflora extract may be an effective adjuvant agent in the management of opiate
withdrawal. An extract from passiflora herb reverses tolerance and dependence of several addiction-prone psychotropic drugs,
including morphine, nicotine, ethanol, diazepam and
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
Passiflora in the treatment of opiates withdrawal: a double-blind randomized
controlled trial.
J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001.
In our continuing study of
traditional medicines, which have neurotropic effects, this plant had an
anxiolytic effect, which may be used as an adjuvant agent in the detoxification
of opiates by clonidine. We present the results of a double-blind randomized
controlled trial of clonidine plus passiflora extract vs. clonidine plus placebo
in the outpatient detoxification of 65 opiates addicts. A total of 65
opiates addicts were assigned randomly to treatment with passiflora extract plus
clonidine tablet or clonidine tablet plus placebo drop during a 14-day
double-blind clinical trial. Both
protocols were equally effective in treating the physical symptoms of withdrawal
syndromes. However, the passiflora plus clonidine group showed a significant
superiority over clonidine alone in the management of mental symptoms. These
results suggested that passiflora extract may be an effective adjuvant agent in
the management of opiate withdrawal. However, a larger study to confirm our
results is warranted.
Overview
J Ethnopharmacol. Dec 12 2013. Passiflora incarnata: ethnopharmacology,
clinical application, safety and evaluation of clinical trials. The genus
Passiflora incarnata has long been used in traditional herbal medicine for the
treatment of insomnia and anxiety in Europe, and it has been used as a sedative
tea in North America. Furthermore, this plant has been used for analgesic,
anti-spasmodic, anti-asthmatic, wormicidal and sedative purposes in Brazil; as a
sedative and narcotic in Iraq; and for the treatment of disorders such as
dysmenorrhoea, epilepsy, insomnia, neurosis and neuralgia in Turkey. Clinical
studies on the effects of products containing herbal preparations based on
Passiflora incarnata reveal crucial weaknesses such as poor details regarding
the drug extract ratio, limited patient samples, no description of blinding and
randomisation procedures, incorrect definition of placebo, and lack of intention
to treat analysis. In conclusion, the results of this review suggest that new
clinical trials should be conducted using a more rigorous methodology to assess
the traditional putative efficacy
Questions
Can passiflora help with
internet addiction?
I am not aware of such a relationship.
I have read some research that the tri-substituted benzoflavone helps greatly
in the withdrawal of medications like valium. From your website I realized that
it is contained in the Passiflora Incarnata. However I realize that it contains
trace amounts of Harman alkaloids. From my internet research I’ve learned that
Harman alkaloids act as Monamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI). I also realize that
you should not take a MAOI while on an antidepressant as it can lead to
serotonin syndrome. Unfortunately I’m on an antidepressant as well. Is there
enough in straight Passiflora Incarnata to cause a potential problem? Have you
or any of your colleagues isolated the tri-substituted benzoflavone and
concentrated it for use in a supplement to help people get off of valium. If so
where or when can I purchase this? I’m currently on 4 mg of valium and am trying
to get off it. I’m cutting by a 0.25 mg every 3-4 weeks so that I can still
function at work. If your tri-substituted benzoflavone is not ready yet might a
di-substituted benzoflavone like 7, 8- benzoflavone work? This I can get on line
from body building websites. It’s touted to increase testosterone production. I
think you could do a great service to thousands if not millions of people
worldwide who are dependant on benzodiazepine such as valium. To assist in the
healing of another human being is the noblest of all professions.
I have not heard of any cases of passion flower herbal use to
interfere with MAOI inhibitors but I have not seen any studies with this
interaction and I doubt there is enough of these chemicals to interact
negatively. I, personally, am not involved in manufacturing. There are a number
of natural substances that are helpful in reducing anxiety. I have not studied
the benefits or side effects of 7, 8- benzoflavone.
Various Passiflora Species
incarnata, caerulea
edulis, ligularis
foetida, lutea
alatocaerulea
Passiflora Incarnata
herb 200
mg
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 capsule
Servings per Bottle: 90
Each Capsule Contains:
Passion Flower 200 mg
(Passiflora spp.) flower and leaf
Suggested Use, dosage: 1 passionflower capsule daily or as needed. May be taken on an empty stomach any time of day.