Herbal Spotlight: Passiflora incarnata

Herbal Spotlight: Passiflora incarnata

Passion flower has caught the attention of naturalists and healers for centuries due to its unique floral patterns and calming effects. It’s a climbing vine that is native to the southeastern United States and Central America, and one that became a crucial tool for treating restlessness and other nervous conditions.

Modern phylogenetic research has traced the journey of this plant and highlights how ecological pressures have shaped the plant’s rich background that includes over 600 species in the larger Passiflora genus.1,2 Across these species, they’re used as ornamental flowers, medicinal plants, used for their fruit, and also used as a source of oils in the cosmetic industry.

Compounds of Action3

Passiflora incarnata’s GABAergic action works through a combination of the following:

  • Chrysin, apigenin, and vitexin: Flavonoids that inhibit GABA reuptake and enhance the GABAergic activity of the body.
  • Harmane, harmine, and harmol: Alkaloids that inhibit monoamine oxidase A (MAO-O), which could explain its ability to support mood-stabilization. Specifically, through the synaptic availability of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
  • Cyclopaciflosides (XII/XIII): Triterpenoid saponins with sedative potential on the central nervous system.

Unlike benzodiazepines (which act on GABAa receptors), Passiflora selectively interacts with GABAB receptors, which are responsible for slow synaptic inhibition, leading to muscle relaxation. This may explain why passion flower improves anxiety and sleep without impairing cognition, making it safe for daytime use.4

They mimic synthetic anxiolytics through a combination of hydrogen bond donor and acceptor sites, as well as lipophilic domains like the aromatic A and B rings.

Clinical Applications4

Condition Benefit Evidence Level
General Anxiety Reduces symptoms without sedation Moderate-High
Preoperative Stress As effective as benzodiazepines Moderate
Insomnia/
restlessness		 Enhances sleep quality and latency Moderate
Pediatric Nervousness Safe in lower doses (4+ years) Low-Moderate


A more recent study from 20245 reinforced the plants position as a viable alternative for stress-related insomnia and mild anxiety.

In the Harit et al. study, folks receiving 600mg of the extract daily experienced:

  • A 42% reduction in sleep latency (from 72 minutes to 42 minutes
  • A 50% reduction in nocturnal awakenings
  • A 15% improvement in sleep efficiency (from 75.5% to 86.6%
  • A 42.5% reduction on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
    • Moved from moderate to mild

Most importantly for you, the care provider, there were no adverse events of safety concerns with excellent tolerability throughout the study. Along with the results of the 2020 meta-analysis which reported a 39% lower odds of anxiety symptoms among those tread with Passiflora, this herb is validated as a true clinical consideration.

References:

1.    Cerqueira-Silva, Carlos Bernard M., et al. "Genetic breeding and diversity of the genus Passiflora: progress and perspectives in molecular and genetic studies." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 15.8 (2014): 14122-14152.
2.    Muschner, Valéria C., et al. "Phylogeny, biogeography and divergence times in Passiflora (Passifloraceae)." Genetics and Molecular Biology 35 (2012): 1036-1043.
3.    Nikolova, Krastena, et al. "Chemical compositions, pharmacological properties and medicinal effects of genus Passiflora L.: A review." Plants 13.2 (2024): 228.
4.    Janda, Katarzyna, et al. "Passiflora incarnata in neuropsychiatric disorders—a systematic review." Nutrients 12.12 (2020): 3894.
5.    Harit, Mahesh Kumar, et al. "Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of Passiflora incarnata in Participants With Stress and Sleep Problems." Cureus 16.3 (2024).

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