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Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) Be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and dietary supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products containing or claiming to contain passionflower. Decisions to use herbs or supplements should be carefully considered. Individuals using prescription drugs should discuss taking herbs or supplements with a pharmacist or health care professional before starting.
Scientists have studied passionflower for the following health problems: Restlessness, anxiety, insomnia | Passionflower is often used to treat restlessness, anxiety and insomnia. However, there are no well-conducted trials in humans for these uses. Thus far, the scientific evidence has come from animal experiments and a few low-quality studies in humans. Many of these studies have used combination products that contain other ingredients along with passionflower. There need to be better trials using passionflower alone before it can be recommended for the treatment of restlessness, anxiety or insomnia. | Congestive heart failure | An extract containing passionflower and another herb (hawthorn) has been studied in people with congestive heart failure for the treatment of shortness of breath and difficulty exercising. People using this combination of herbs have experienced improvements in these symptoms. However, any positive effects may have resulted from hawthorn, which is more commonly used for congestive heart failure than is passionflower. The scientific evidence in this area is low quality. Without further study, passionflower cannot be recommended for congestive heart failure. |
Passionflower has been suggested for many other uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially very serious and even life-threatening. You should consult a health care professional before using passionflower for any unproven use. Alcohol withdrawal
Aphrodisiac
Asthma
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Bacterial infections
Burns (applied to the skin)
Cancer
Cough
Drug addiction | Epstein-Barr virus
Gastrointestinal discomfort (upset stomach)
Hemorrhoids
High blood pressure
Menopause (hot flashes)
Muscle spasms
Pain
Seizures
Wrinkles (applied to the skin) |
Allergies Asthma symptoms, irritated sinuses, skin rashes and inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis) have rarely been reported with the use of passionflower. If you experience these reactions, stop treatment immediately and contact a health care professional. Several natural medicine textbooks have stated that they believe some reactions may have been caused by contamination of products, not by passionflower itself Side Effects Drowsiness or sedation may occur. Use caution if you are driving or operating heavy machinery. Use of tinctures, which contain alcohol, may increase these effects. Nausea and severe vomiting have been reported in a patient taking the passionflower product Sedacalm. The symptoms stopped after one week of care. Another person taking Sedacalm experienced a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm (ventricular tachycardia). She stopped taking the product and recovered after several days of hospital care. Impurities are sometimes found in passionflower products and may cause side effects. There is a case report of liver failure and death of a patient taking a preparation of passionflower with kava kava. Patients should use caution with any kava-containing products, as kava has been associated with liver damage. Pregnancy And Breast-Feeding Passionflower is not recommended during pregnancy or breast-feeding because animal studies have shown that it may stimulate the uterus. Be aware that many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol and should be avoided during pregnancy.
Interactions with drugs, supplements and other herbs have not been thoroughly studied. The interactions listed below have been reported in scientific publications. If you are taking prescription drugs, speak with a health care professional or pharmacist before using herbs or dietary supplements. Interactions With Drugs Increased sedation or low blood pressure could result from taking passionflower with certain drugs used for depression. These include monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as tranylcypromine (Parnate); tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil); and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine (Prozac). This is based on the presence of certain chemicals in passionflower, although these reactions have not been studied or reported in humans. Based on animal studies, passionflower may increase the amount of drowsiness caused by some drugs. Examples include benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam (Ativan); barbiturates, such as phenobarbital; narcotics, such as codeine; and alcohol. Caution is advised while driving or operating machinery. In theory, passionflower may increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs. Examples include warfarin (Coumadin), heparin and clopidogrel (Plavix). Some pain relievers may also increase the risk of bleeding if used with passionflower, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox). Be aware that many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol and may cause nausea or vomiting when taken with metronidazole (Flagyl) or disulfiram (Antabuse). Interactions With Herbs And Dietary Supplements Passionflower may increase the effects of herbs and supplements that cause drowsiness, such as valerian. Passionflower and kava together caused increased drowsiness in mice. Caution is advised while driving or operating machinery. Herbs and supplements with possible effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may lead to increased sedation or low blood pressure when taken with passionflower. For example, kava ( Piper methysticum) is believed to have weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor effects. In theory, passionflower may increase the risk of bleeding when also taken with other products that are believed to increase the risk of bleeding. Examples include Ginkgo biloba and garlic ( Allium sativum). Caffeine taken with passionflower may increase blood pressure.
The doses listed below are based on scientific research, publications or traditional use. Because most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly studied or monitored, safety and effectiveness may not be proven. Brands may be made differently, with variable ingredients even within the same brand. Combination products often contain small amounts of each ingredient and may not be effective. Appropriate dosing should be discussed with a health care professional before starting therapy; always read the recommendations on a product's label. The dosing for unproven uses should be approached cautiously, because scientific information is limited in these areas. Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) Dried passionflower herb: A dose of 0.5 grams three to four times per day taken by mouth has been used. Tincture: A dose of one to four milliliters (1:8) three to four times per day taken by mouth has been used. Tea: A dose of four to eight grams of dried passionflower herb steeped in water consumed once per day has been used. Children (Younger Than 18) The dosing and safety of passionflower have not been studied thoroughly in children, and it is recommended that you discuss doses with a health care professional before your child starts therapy. Although passionflower has been suggested for many conditions, it has been most studied for sedation (restlessness, anxiety, insomnia), usually as a part of herbal combination products. It should be avoided by pregnant women and by anybody taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Passionflower may increase the amount of drowsiness caused by other drugs, herbs or supplements. Passionflower should not be taken with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs or herbs without first discussing it with a health care professional. Consult a health care professional immediately if you experience side effects. The information in this monograph was prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard. - Natural Standard: An organization that produces scientifically based reviews of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): A division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dedicated to research
Selected Scientific Studies: Passionflower Natural Standard reviewed more than 70 articles to prepare the professional monograph from which this version was created. Some of the more recent studies are listed below: - Bilia AR, Bergonzi MC, Gallori S, et al. Stability of the constituents of Calendula, milk-thistle and passionflower tinctures by LC-DAD and LC-MS. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2002;Oct 15, 30(3):613-624.
- Bourin M, Bougerol T, Guitton B, et al. A combination of plant extracts in the treatment of outpatients with adjustment disorder with anxious mood: controlled study versus placebo. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 1997;11(2):127-132.
- Capasso A, Pinto A. Experimental investigations of the synergistic-sedative effect of Passiflora and kava. Acta Therapeutica 1995;21:127-140.
- Carlini EA. Plants and the central nervous system. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2003;Jun, 75(3):501-512.
- Dattilio L, Suddaby B. Ventricular tachycardia in a neonate. Pediatr Nurs 2002;Nov-Dec, 28(6):612-613.
- de Melo NF, Guerra M. Variability of the 5S and 45S rDNA sites in Passiflora L. species with distinct base chromosome numbers. Ann Bot (Lond) 2003;Aug, 92(2):309-316.
- Dhawan K, Kumar S, Sharma A. Antiasthmatic activity of the methanol extract of leaves of Passiflora incarnata. Phytother Res 2003;Aug, 17(7):821-822.
- Dhawan K, Dhawan S, Chhabra S. Attenuation of benzodiazepine dependence in mice by a tri-substituted benzoflavone moiety of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus: a non-habit forming anxiolytic. J Pharm Pharm Sci 2003;May-Aug, 6(2):215-222.
- Dhawan K, Kumar S, Sharma A. Aphrodisiac activity of methanol extract of leaves of Passiflora incarnata Linn in mice. Phytother Res 2003;Apr, 17(4):401-403.
- Dhawan K, Sharma A. Antitussive activity of the methanol extract of Passiflora incarnata leaves. Fitoterapia 2002;Aug, 73(5):397-399.
- Dhawan K, Kumar S, Sharma A. Suppression of alcohol-cessation-oriented hyper-anxiety by the benzoflavone moiety of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus in mice. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;Jul, 81(2):239-244.
- Dhawan K, Kumar S, Sharma A. Comparative anxiolytic activity profile of various preparations of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus: a comment on medicinal plants' standardization. J Altern Complement Med 2002;Jun, 8(3):283-291.
- Dhawan K, Kumar S, Sharma A. Reversal of cannabinoids (delta9-THC) by the benzoflavone moiety from methanol extract of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus in mice: a possible therapy for cannabinoid addiction. J Pharm Pharmacol 2002;Jun, 54(6):875-881.
- Giavina-Bianchi PF Jr., Castro FF, Machado ML, et al. Occupational respiratory allergic disease induced by Passiflora alata and Rhamnus purshiana. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1997;79(5):449-454.
- Gow PJ, Connelly NJ, Hill RL, et al. Fatal fulminant hepatic failure induced by a natural therapy containing kava. Med J Aust 2003;May 5, 178(9):442-443. Comment in: Med J Aust 2003;May 5, 178(9):421-422.
- Kapadia GJ, Azuine MA, Tokuda H, et al. Inhibitory effect of herbal remedies on 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-promoted Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation. Pharmacol Res 2002;Mar, 45(3):213-220.
- Krenn L. Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata L.): a reliable herbal sedative [Article in German]. Wien Med Wochenschr 2002;152(15-16):404-406.
- Marchart E, Krenn L, Kopp B. Quantification of the flavonoid glycosides in Passiflora incarnata by capillary electrophoresis. Planta Med 2003;May, 69(5):452-456.
- Puricelli L, Dell'Aica I, Sartor L, et al. Preliminary evaluation of inhibition of matrix-metalloprotease MMP-2 and MMP-9 by Passiflora edulis and P. foetida aqueous extracts. Fitoterapia 2003;Apr, 74(3):302-304.
- Seigler DS, Pauli GF, Nahrstedt A, Leen R. Cyanogenic allosides and glucosides from Passiflora edulis and Carica papaya. Phytochemistry 2002;Aug, 60(8):873-882.
- Smith GW, Chalmers TM, Nuki G. Vasculitis associated with herbal preparation containing Passiflora extract. Br J Rheumatol 1993;32(1):87-88.
- Speroni E, Minghetti A. Neuropharmacological activity of extracts from Passiflora incarnata. Planta Med 1988;54(6):488-491.
- Talcott ST, Percival SS, Pittet-Moore J, Celoria C. Phytochemical composition and antioxidant stability of fortified yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis). J Agric Food Chem 2003;Feb 12, 51(4):935-941.
- Von Eiff M, Brunner H, Haegeli A, et al. Hawthorn/passion flower extract and improvement in physical exercise capacity of patients with dyspnoea class II of the NYHA functional classifications. Acta Therapeutica 1994;20:47-66.
Last updated July 14, 2005
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