Passionflower: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Scientific name(s)
Passiflora incarnata
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Maltol
Isovitexin
Harmanol
Harmine
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Sleep disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
An herbal tea prepared by steeping 2 g of the aerial parts of passionflower in 250 ml of boiling water for 10 minutes each evening, about one hour before bedtime for 7 nights, improves subjective ratings of sleep quality compared with placebo (parsley tea) in young adults with mild fluctuations in sleep quality. Furthermore, taking a complex containing 80 mg of passionflower, 300 mg of valerian and 30 mg of hops orally at bedtime for 2 weeks appears to improve subjective measures of sleep similarly to Zolpidem (a hypnotic from the imidazopyridine class) at 10 mg per night in people suffering from primary insomnia. Finally, in a more recent clinical study conducted in adults with insomnia, the use of a passionflower extract at a dose of 60 mg each night before bedtime for two weeks demonstrated an increase in total sleep time of about 23 minutes. However, this study did not show a significant improvement in sleep efficiency, sleep latency, or the frequency of awakenings after sleep onset compared with placebo. These results suggest that passionflower may be beneficial in the management of sleep disorders.
Posologie
Oral use: aerial parts
80 - 200 mg
dry extract
Synergies
Effects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study
A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Investigation of the Effects of Passiflora Incarnata (Passionflower) Herbal Tea on Subjective Sleep Quality
Efficacy and Safety of a Polyherbal Sedative-Hypnotic Formulation NSF-3 in Primary Insomnia in Comparison to Zolpidem: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Anxiety ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking passionflower in amounts ranging from 90 mg to 400 mg, twice daily, reduces symptoms of nonspecific anxiety compared with baseline. It has been shown that the effect of passionflower is comparable to benzodiazepines (anxiolytics) such as mexazolam or oxazepam, although its effect is slower (7 days versus 4 for oxazepam 30 mg). Interestingly, passionflower has shown promise in the treatment of preoperative anxiety.
Posologie
Oral: aerial parts
90 - 800 mg
dry extract
Passiflora for Anxiety Disorder
Preoperative Oral Passiflora Incarnata Reduces Anxiety in Ambulatory Surgery Patients: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Assessment of Passiflora incarnata L for conscious sedation of patients during the extraction of mandibular third molars: a randomized, split-mouth, double-blind, crossover study
Herbal medicines as anxiolytics prior to third molar surgical extraction. A randomized controlled clinical trial
Passiflora Incarnata L.: Ethnopharmacology, Clinical Application, Safety and Evaluation of Clinical Trials
A Combination of Plant Extracts in the Treatment of Outpatients With Adjustment Disorder With Anxious Mood: Controlled Study Versus Placebo
Effects of Passiflora Incarnata and Midazolam for Control of Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Dental Extraction
Passionflower in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety: A Pilot Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial With Oxazepam
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
Passiflora Incarnata Linneaus as an Anxiolytic Before Spinal Anesthesia
Attention deficit disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
A small study explored the use of passionflower in the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. It included 34 children diagnosed with ADHD. They were divided into two groups for an 8-week treatment period: one group received passionflower (Passipay™) at a dose of 0.04 mg/kg/day, while the other group received methylphenidate, a standard medication for ADHD, at 1 mg/kg/day. The effectiveness of the treatments was evaluated using rating scores provided by parents and teachers. Interestingly, the results showed that there was no significant difference in the improvement of ADHD symptoms between the children who received passionflower and those receiving methylphenidate. Additionally, side effects were less frequent in the children treated with passionflower, with a lower incidence of anxiety and loss of appetite compared with the methylphenidate group. These results suggest that passionflower could be a natural alternative for treating ADHD in children, although further research is needed before drawing conclusions.
Posologie
Oral administration: aerial parts
0.5 - 2 mL
alcoholic extract
Passiflora Incarnata L.: Ethnopharmacology, Clinical Application, Safety and Evaluation of Clinical Trials
Herbal medicines in the treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): An updated systematic review of clinical trials
Stress ✪✪✪✪✪
The EMA recognizes the use of passionflower as a traditional herbal medicinal product to relieve mild symptoms of mental stress and to promote sleep. nnOn the clinical studies side, one study showed that a complex containing 90 mg of passionflower, 50 mg of lemon balm, 90 mg of valerian and 90 mg of butterbur (Petasites hybridus) three times a day for 3 days modestly reduced subjective anxiety scores during social stress tests compared with placebo or no treatment in adult men. nn
Posologie
Oral use: aerial parts
90 - 90 mg
dry extract
Synergies
Congestive heart failure ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking a combination of passionflower and hawthorn flower extracts orally three times a day for six weeks increases six-minute walk distance compared with placebo in people with mild heart failure. nn
Posologie
Oral use: aerial parts
2 - 6 mL
alcoholic extract
Synergies
Nervousness ✪✪✪✪✪
Because of its anxiolytic and sedative properties, passionflower is recommended to relieve states of tension, agitation, irritability and nervousness. The effectiveness of these uses has been confirmed by ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy).nn
Posologie
Oral use: aerial parts
2 - 8 mL
alcoholic extract
Properties
Neurological
Studies indicate that passionflower acts by inhibiting the uptake of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at neuronal synapses, while showing affinity for GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors. nnβ-carboline alkaloids, such as harman, harmaline, and harmine, have complementary beneficial actions on the central nervous system (CNS). These actions include inhibition of the monoamine oxidase enzyme, which stimulates serotonin production, and an agonist effect at GABA receptors. nnResearch in animals suggests that maltol, another constituent of passionflower, can induce a reduction in CNS activity, decrease spontaneous motor activity, and prolong sleep duration. At high doses, maltol also demonstrates anticonvulsant properties. nnFinally, Isovitexin and Vitexin have shown an ability to attenuate withdrawal symptoms in morphine-dependent animals, indicating an action on GABA receptors.nnThe synergistic interaction between the flavonoids and alkaloids of passionflower offers beneficial effects in the management of anxiety, convulsive disorders, and potentially in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms.nn
Usages associés
Anxiolytic
Animal studies have demonstrated anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects associated with the use of passionflower flower extracts. It appears that passionflower acts by inhibiting the uptake of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at neuronal synapses, while showing a particular affinity for GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors. nnSome research suggests that the anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects of passionflower may be comparable to those of benzodiazepines, drugs recognized for their anxiolytic action. This similarity would be due to passionflower's ability to bind to the benzodiazepine site on GABA(A) receptors.nnAmong the active constituents of passionflower, benzoflavone is often considered responsible for these effects. However, it is also possible that other constituents such as chrysin and maltol also contribute to these anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects.nn
Usages associés
Sedative
Maltol, a component of passionflower that is present in small amounts, appears to have sedative and analgesic properties. Research conducted on animal models indicates that maltol can lead to a decrease in central nervous system (CNS) activity, reduce spontaneous motor activity, and prolong the duration of sleep, particularly when combined with barbiturates. At high doses, maltol has also demonstrated anticonvulsant activity in these animal studies. However, it is important to note that the concentrations of maltol in standard passionflower preparations are likely insufficient to reproduce these effects in humans. Thus, although maltol contributes to the sedative properties of passionflower, the effectiveness and potency of these effects may vary and are not guaranteed.
Usages associés
Safe dosage
Adults aged 12 years and older: 200 mg - 800 mg
Up to 800 mg per day of a dried alcoholic extract of passionflower have been used safely for 8 weeks. In addition, a tea prepared by steeping 2 grams of dried aerial parts of passionflower in 250 mL of boiling water for 10 minutes was used each evening for 7 nights without adverse effects.nnThe EMA recommends between 2 and 8 mL of a solution containing passionflower alcoholic extract.nn
Interactions
Médicaments
Benzodiazepines: moderate interaction
Because of its sedative action, passionflower may increase the risk of drowsiness with many medications.
Barbiturates: moderate interaction
Theoretically, passionflower may potentiate the effects of barbiturates. Barbiturates include amobarbital, butabarbital, mephobarbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital and secobarbital.
Precautions
Children aged 3 to 12 years: use with caution
Children (3 to 12 years) only under medical supervision.nnAdult dose adjusted for body weight.nn
Breastfeeding women: avoid
Available reliable information is insufficient.nn
Contraindications
Pregnant women: contraindicated
The alkaloids harman and harmaline, which are found in passionflower, are thought to have uterine stimulant activity. It is not known whether these constituents are present in passionflower extracts in sufficient quantities to have an effect.nn
