Omnia SanaCommon names in 9 European languages →
The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 2 pharmacological actions, 4 traditional / indicated uses, with 15 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Fast-growing, climbing or trailing perennial vine (Passifloraceae) that climbs by axillary tendrils, reaching several metres. Leaves are alternate and deeply 3-lobed. The large, intricate flowers have a fringed corona of lavender-white filaments around a central structure whose parts were likened by early missionaries to instruments of the Passion of Christ, giving the plant its name. The fruit is an edible, egg-shaped, yellow-orange berry known as a 'maypop'.[12]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to the south-eastern United States, growing in thickets, fencerows, roadsides and disturbed sunny ground; widely cultivated and naturalised as an ornamental and medicinal crop elsewhere in warm-temperate and subtropical regions.[12]
Harvesting
The flowering and fruiting aerial parts (herb) are cut during the growing season, typically as flowering begins, and dried for use.[12]
Key Constituents
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension (reduces anxiety in clinical trials); Reduces preoperative / situational anxiety without sedation or psychomotor impairment (RCT in ambulatory surgery patients)
Sleep support for insomnia - improves subjective sleep quality and, on polysomnography, increases total sleep time
more plants for insomnia / sleeplessness →detailed sources →
Anxiolytic for anxiety and nervous tension (reduces anxiety in clinical trials)
Relief of mild mental stress
Traditional Use & History
Passionflower has a traditional use, recognised by European regulatory herbal monographs, as a mild sedative and anxiolytic for nervous tension, mild anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Modern clinical trials support anxiolytic and sleep-supporting effects, including reduced preoperative anxiety without sedation or psychomotor impairment.[1, 12]
Preparations
Dosage
EMA herbal-monograph guidance suggests around 0.5-2 g dried herb per cup as an infusion, up to several times daily, or an equivalent liquid/dry extract. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally well tolerated, with no serious adverse effects reported in trials. Its sedative effect can add to that of alcohol, sedatives and sleep medicines, so avoid combining and do not use before driving.
Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended.
Herb-Drug Interactions
Harvest Readiness
[13]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Janda, K., Wojtkowska, K., Jakubczyk, K., Antoniewicz, J. and Skonieczna-Zydecka, K (2020) 'Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders - A Systematic Review', Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu12123894 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123894 - Harit, M.K., Mundhe, N., Tamoli, S., Pawar, V., Bhapkar, V., Kolhe, G., Mahadik, S., Kulkarni, A. and Agarwal, A (2024) 'Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of Passiflora incarnata in Participants With Stress and Sleep Problems', Cureus, 16(3), pp. e56530. doi:10.7759/cureus.56530 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.56530 - Lee, J., Jung, H.Y., Lee, S.I., Choi, J.H. and Kim, S.G (2020) 'Effects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study', International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 35(1), pp. 29--35. doi:10.1097/YIC.0000000000000291 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1097/YIC.0000000000000291 - Ngan, A. and 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), pp. 1153--1159. doi:10.1002/ptr.3400 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3400 - Miroddi, M., Calapai, G., Navarra, M., Minciullo, P.L. and Gangemi, S (2013) 'Passiflora incarnata L.: ethnopharmacology, clinical application, safety and evaluation of clinical trials', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 150(3), pp. 791-804. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.09.047 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.09.047 - Krenn, L (2002) 'Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata L.) - a reliable herbal sedative', Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift, 152(15-16), pp. 404-406. doi:10.1046/j.1563-258x.2002.02062.x Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1563-258x.2002.02062.x - Dhawan, K., Kumar, S. and Sharma, A (2001) 'Anti-anxiety studies on extracts of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 78(2-3), pp. 165-170. doi:10.1016/s0378-8741(01)00339-7 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(01)00339-7 - Aslanargun, P., Cuvas, O., Dikmen, B., Aslan, E. and Yuksel, M.U (2011) 'Passiflora incarnata Linneaus as an anxiolytic before spinal anesthesia', Journal of Anesthesia, 26(1), pp. 39-44. doi:10.1007/s00540-011-1265-6 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-011-1265-6 - Dhawan, K., Kumar, S. and Sharma, A (2001) 'Anxiolytic activity of aerial and underground parts of Passiflora incarnata', Fitoterapia, 72(8), pp. 922-926. doi:10.1016/s0367-326x(01)00322-7 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0367-326x(01)00322-7 - Movafegh, A., Alizadeh, R., Hajimohamadi, F., Esfehani, F. and Nejatfar, M (2008) 'Preoperative oral Passiflora incarnata reduces anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study', Anesthesia and Analgesia, 106(6), pp. 1728--1732. doi:10.1213/ane.0b013e318172c3f9 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1213/ane.0b013e318172c3f9 - Grundmann, O., Wang, J., McGregor, G.P. and Butterweck, V (2008) 'Anxiolytic activity of a phytochemically characterized Passiflora incarnata extract is mediated via the GABAergic system', Planta Medica, 74(15), pp. 1769-1773. doi:10.1055/s-0028-1088322 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0028-1088322 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (n.d.) 'European Union herbal monograph on Passiflora incarnata L., herba (Passiflorae herba)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/passiflorae-herba Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/passiflorae-herba - Plants For A Future 'Passiflora incarnata (Maypop, Purple Passionflower)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Passiflora+incarnata Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Passiflora+incarnata - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
Selected studies & references
All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.