Herbs & Botanicals · Herbs · Calming climbing vine, evidence is low-certainty

Passionflower

Q: Does passionflower help anxiety?

Possibly, with low certainty. One small 4-week trial of 36 people found a liquid extract about as good as the drug oxazepam, and single doses before surgery or dental work lowered anxiety in several small trials. But a 2007 Cochrane review found too few trials to draw a conclusion, while a 2018 review called the evidence high quality, and both rest on the same few studies. If anxiety is bothering you, talk to a doctor.

Q: Does passionflower help you sleep?

Maybe a little, with low certainty. A week of tea gave healthy adults slightly better self-rated sleep quality than placebo tea, and a 2-week trial in 110 adults with insomnia found more total sleep time on overnight recording than placebo. Other sleep measures did not beat placebo, effects were small, and the trials were short.

Q: Is passionflower as good as a benzodiazepine?

We cannot say. One small pilot of 36 people found a liquid extract and oxazepam both worked and did not differ at 4 weeks, but oxazepam worked faster, and there was no placebo group. A Cochrane review said the trials are too few to conclude. Never stop or replace a benzodiazepine on your own, because stopping suddenly can be dangerous.

Q: What are the side effects of passionflower?

The expected ones are drowsiness, dizziness and confusion. Most short trials saw no adverse effects. A few serious reports exist as single cases only: a prolonged QT interval with ventricular tachycardia in one woman, hypersensitivity vasculitis in one person, and a fatal liver failure with a kava and passionflower product, where kava is the known liver risk. Cause was not proven in any of them and no rate is known. Short, small trials cannot rule out rarer or longer-term problems.

Q: Can I take passionflower with sedatives or alcohol?

Take care and ask your prescriber or pharmacist first. Both passionflower and sedatives can cause drowsiness, so effects might add up. One man on lorazepam who also took valerian and passionflower had shaking, dizziness and muscle fatigue. The EU assessment advises against combining it with benzodiazepines, and NCCIH says it might interact with some anesthesia drugs. No controlled interaction study exists. Avoid alcohol with it, and note that some liquid extracts contain alcohol.

Q: Is it safe to drive after taking passionflower?

Wait to see how you react. The EU monograph says it may impair the ability to drive or use machines and that affected people should not drive. In two trials of a single dose before surgery, thinking and movement tests were not worse than with placebo, so the effect varies by person.

Q: Is passionflower safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Avoid it. NCCIH says not to use it in pregnancy because it may cause uterine contractions, and the EU monograph says safety is not established and use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended. We found no human study of this, so it is a precaution, not a proven harm. The EU monograph also does not recommend it under age 12 without medical advice.

Q: Which species is passionflower herb?

Passiflora incarnata, also called maypop or purple passionflower. Passion fruit is a different species, Passiflora edulis. Others such as Passiflora alata and Passiflora caerulea are different plants too. Look for Passiflora incarnata and the plant part on a label.

Q: Is tea or a supplement better?

We cannot say which is better. Tea, tinctures and extracts are different products, and trial results for one do not carry over to another. Tea was tested in healthy adults for a week and extracts in other trials. Quality is a real issue: in a 2025 test of 11 European products, five of six food supplements failed identity or flavone-content checks, while all registered herbal medicines passed. For amounts, ask a doctor or pharmacist.

Q: Who should avoid passionflower?

Avoid it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, allergic to it, or under 12 without medical advice. Ask a doctor first if you take benzodiazepines, other sedatives, MAO inhibitor antidepressants or blood thinners, if you have heart rhythm problems or long QT, or if you have surgery coming up (tell the surgical team; NCCIH advises talking to a provider if you take it within 2 weeks of surgery). The MAO inhibitor and blood thinner ideas are theory with insufficient evidence.

Passiflora incarnata L. · also called Passionflower, purple passionflower, maypop, pasionaria (Spanish), passiflore rouge (French), Passionsblume (German)

Passionflower is a climbing vine from the southeastern United States. The leaves, stems and flowers (the above-ground parts) are used as a calming herbal remedy, mostly as tea, tincture or extract, and in blends with valerian or lemon balm. People take it for anxiety, stress and sleep. The research is small and short, and nothing is rated above low certainty. Do not confuse it with passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), a different species. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using it, especially with sedatives or in pregnancy.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 24, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

Get your Passionflower today. Order now from Amazon and have it delivered to your door.Shop Passionflower on AmazonSupport our free guides: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

About Passionflower

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a climbing vine whose above-ground parts are used as a calming herb, mainly for anxiety, stress and sleep. Be honest about the evidence first: nothing is rated above low certainty. For anxiety, anxiety before surgery, sleep and stress it is low; reviews of the same few small trials disagree (a 2007 Cochrane review said there were too few trials to conclude anything, while a 2018 review was favourable). For opioid withdrawal, benzodiazepine tapering and ADHD in children it is very low, and for blends, mood and menopause it is insufficient. Every human trial for knee pain, asthma and blood sugar used passion fruit peel (Passiflora edulis), a different species, and none used passionflower herb. On safety, the usual side effects are drowsiness, dizziness and confusion, and it may affect driving. A few serious reports exist, such as a heart rhythm problem, a blood vessel inflammation and a fatal liver failure with a kava blend, but each is a single case report and cause was not proven. Avoid it in pregnancy and tell your doctor before combining it with sedatives, alcohol or surgery. Quality is uneven: a 2025 study found that five of six food supplements failed identity or content checks. For amounts, ask a doctor or pharmacist.

What it is

Passionflower is a climbing vine native to the southeastern United States, also called maypop. The leaves, stems and flowers (the above-ground parts) are the medicinal part. The full Latin name, Passiflora incarnata, is what to look for on a label, because there are hundreds of Passiflora species.

It is sold as tea, tincture, liquid extract, tablets and capsules, and in blends with valerian, lemon balm or hops. This profile covers it as a herb and supplement.

^{102 103 67}

Passionflower is not passion fruit

The passion fruit sold in shops comes from a different species, Passiflora edulis. The two have often been mixed up in the past, because leaf shape and microscope features look alike, and this may explain some contradictory research. A paper on the topic says older studies need checking for which species was really used.

This matters here: the human trials of knee pain, asthma and blood sugar used passion fruit peel, not passionflower herb. They tell us nothing about Passiflora incarnata. Other species such as Passiflora alata and Passiflora caerulea are different plants again.

^{26 61 92}

What people use it for

Traditionally it is a calming herb: a sedative tea in North America, and in Europe a remedy for nervousness and poor sleep since the 19th century. The EU regulator lists it for relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and as a sleep aid, based on long use only.

Today people take it for anxiety, stress and sleep, and for nerves before surgery or dental work. It is also tested in blends, as an add-on in opioid withdrawal and benzodiazepine tapering, and in ADHD in children.

^{34 101 64}

What the research shows

Nothing is above low certainty. For anxiety, a small 4-week trial found a liquid extract about as good as the drug oxazepam. A 2007 Cochrane review found only two trials and said that was too few to conclude anything, while a 2018 review of herbal medicines called the evidence high quality. These disagree because they judge the same few small trials differently.

Anxiety before surgery, sleep and stress have small, short trials with some positive results and different products. Opioid withdrawal, benzodiazepine tapering and ADHD in children rest on one or two small studies each. Blends cannot be credited to passionflower alone. In the lab, plant flavonoids seem to act on the brain's calming GABA system, but the results conflict, so how it works is unsettled.

^{1 65 74 47 6 45}

At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

European herbal medicine: a calming plant used since the 19th century for nervousness and trouble sleeping, usually as tea or tincture
North America: a sedative tea; Southeastern Native American peoples ate the fruit and used the root for skin problems, liver ailments and earaches
EU traditional-use status: relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and an aid to sleep, based on long use only (the EU regulator says clinical safety data are almost absent)
Other traditions listed in a 2013 review include use for opiate dependence in India and for pain and cramps in Brazil (dates and sources not given)

Studied for research

Anxiety, low certainty (a 2007 Cochrane review found too few trials; a 2018 review was more positive)
Anxiety before surgery or dental work, low certainty
Sleep and everyday stress, low certainty
Opioid withdrawal, benzodiazepine tapering and ADHD in children, very low certainty (one or two small studies each)
Combination products, mood and menopause symptoms, insufficient evidence
Knee pain, asthma and blood sugar: the human trials used passion fruit peel, a different plant, not passionflower

Main compounds

Flavonoids such as vitexin, isovitexin, orientin and isoorientin (the main plant compounds; no single one is shown to explain the effects)
Chrysin and maltol, in small amounts
Harman-type alkaloids, in traces (undetectable in most commercial material, according to the EU regulator)
Gynocardin, a plant compound that can release cyanide in the lab; no poisoning from this species was found

Common forms

Tea made from the dried above-ground parts
Tinctures and liquid extracts (some contain alcohol)
Dry extract tablets or capsules (several different products were tested; they are not interchangeable)
Blends with valerian, lemon balm, hops and other herbs, where passionflower's own effect cannot be separated

Research links: Benefits and evidence · Safety and interactions · Questions answered · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

The plant and its history

Accepted scientific name: Passiflora incarnata L.
Naming authority: L. (Linnaeus), published in Species Plantarum, page 959 (1753) (GBIF; NCBI Taxonomy gives 'L., 1753')
Synonyms: Granadilla incarnata (L.) Medik.; Passiflora edulis var. keri (Spreng.) Mast.; Passiflora incarnata f. alba Waterf.; Passiflora incarnata var. integriloba DC.; Passiflora incarnata var. major Sweet; Passiflora keri Spreng.; Passiflora rigidula J.Jacq.
Common names: Passionflower (English); Purple passionflower (English); Maypop (English); Maypop passionflower (English); Apricot-vine (English); Passiflora (Spanish); Pasionaria (Spanish); Passiflore rouge (French); Passionsblume; winterharte Passionsblume (German); Flor-da-paixao (Portuguese); Lakepassionsblomma (Swedish)
Botanical family: Passifloraceae (the passion-flower family, order Malpighiales), in both GBIF and NCBI Taxonomy. The genus is large: Miroddi 2013 (p24140586) gives about 520 species, most of them vines of Central and South America.
Classification: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Malpighiales > Passifloraceae > Passiflora > Passiflora incarnata
Native range: Southeastern United States, reaching east Texas in the west (s-ethnobotany-fritz-maypop). NCCIH says native to the southeastern United States and Central and South America (s-nccih-passionflower); the two sources differ, and the Central/South American part was not verified. The plant has spread with people for a very long time: charred seeds appear in many Southeastern archaeological sites, and the essay calls the plant's relationship with people hard to class as 'wild' or 'domesticated' (s-ethnobotany-fritz-maypop, citing Gremillion 1989; not checked against the original).
Habitat: Wooded areas, farm fields and gardens in the Southeast, often where people have opened the land (s-ethnobotany-fritz-maypop). No other habitat source was read.
What the plant looks like: Roots: Not described in the sources read. A mouse study found root extracts had practically no anxiolytic effect (p11731118).; Stems: A climbing vine (NCCIH). Other stem details not described in the sources read.; Leaves: Not described in the sources read. Leaf measurements (vein-islet number, stomata) are said to differ from P. edulis, but the values were not given in the abstract (p12639407).; Flowers: White and purple (NCCIH). The essay says the flowers are unlike any other native to the southeastern USA.; Fruit: Eaten by Cherokee people raw or crushed into juice (s-ethnobotany-fritz-maypop). The European Pharmacopoeia says the dried herb 'may contain flowers and fruits' (s-ema-ar-passiflora-2008). Size and colour not described in the sources read.
Cultivation: Medicinal supply is cultivated; samples in the chemotype study were grown in Australia (p20522969). No growing guidance, acreage or yields were verified.
Harvest and processing: The European Pharmacopoeia, as quoted by the EMA, defines the herb as the dried aerial parts (stem, leaf, flower; may include fruit). Its dry extract is made with 40-90% ethanol, 60% methanol or 40% acetone and must contain at least 2.0% flavonoids calculated as vitexin; the minimum flavonoid content for the plain dried herb was not stated in the report (s-ema-ar-passiflora-2008). Traditional preparations named there are powder, tea (infusion), and liquid extracts or tinctures in 25-70% ethanol; German dry extracts made with 60% methanol have been sold since 1992. Harvest timing and drying practice were not verified. A mouse study suggests roots and flowers dilute the anxiolytic activity of the leaf and stem material, so the authors argue the parts should be separated before standardizing (p11731118; one research group, mice).
Look-alikes and adulterants: Name: Passiflora edulis (passion fruit); Note: The most important confusion. P. edulis (GBIF key 2874190) is the passion-fruit species. A 2001 paper says it and P. incarnata were often treated as the same species, from Hooker in 1843 and the Index Kewensis in 1895 onwards, because leaf shape and microscopy look alike, and that this confusion may explain contradictory results in the research (p12639407). Leaf measurements, ash and extractive values and a TLC fingerprint separate them. P. edulis is rarely reported to have strong sedative activity. Older studies therefore need checking for which species was actually used.; Name: Passiflora caerulea (blue passionflower); Note: A separate accepted species (GBIF key 2874199). Its chemical fingerprint differs from P. incarnata (p33076047). Its flowers carry harmala-type alkaloids at 1 to 110 micrograms per kilogram (p37448143); that study is on P. caerulea only, so it says nothing about the amount in P. incarnata.; Name: Passiflora alata (winged-stem passionflower); Note: A separate accepted species (GBIF key 2874181) that was told apart from P. incarnata by chemical fingerprinting (p33076047). Its use as a medicine in Brazil was not verified here, so do not assume results on P. alata apply to P. incarnata.; Name: Other Passiflora species in supplements; Note: One method paper measured the same flavonoids and alkaloids in P. incarnata, P. violacea, P. edulis, P. suberosa, P. morifolia and P. quadrangularis and in supplements 'that claim to contain Passiflora' (p23074901). The abstract does not report what was found in the products, so how often products contain the wrong species is not known from the sources read.; Name: Two chemical types inside P. incarnata itself; Note: Eleven samples grown in Australia split into two chemotypes: one with isovitexin and schaftoside/isoschaftoside (the usual type) and one rich in swertisin (p20522969). The authors recommend making medicines from the usual type until the meaning of the difference is understood.
Sustainability and conservation: Not verified. No IUCN or national assessment was retrieved. Status in the wild was not looked up.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
Southeastern Native American peoples (Cherokee and neighbours), before and during European contact	The fruit was eaten raw or crushed into a juice, and boiled young shoots were eaten. Cherokee people used the pounded root for skin problems, liver ailments and earaches, and to help wean babies (citing Moerman 1998). Sedation is not listed among these uses in this source. Charred seeds in many archaeological sites show long human use of the plant.	s-ethnobotany-fritz-maypop
Early 1600s, Virginia (Jamestown colony)	William Strachey, the colony's secretary, reported fields with large amounts of the fruit in 1612; Algonquian people called it 'maracocks' (as cited by the essay, from Major 1849 and Gremillion 1989; the originals were not checked). This is food use, not medicine.	s-ethnobotany-fritz-maypop
16th century, Spanish explorers (naming)	The essay says Spanish explorers gave the genus a name referring to the Passion of Christ (the 'passion' flower), citing Austin 2004. NCCIH adds that 16th-century Spanish explorers in South America learned of passionflower, that it was traditionally used as a sedative, and that it was later brought to Europe, where it was widely cultivated and entered European folk medicine. Several commercial herb websites credit the Spanish physician Nicolas Monardes with writing about it in 1569; this was NOT verified from a primary or scholarly source and is not claimed here. Note too that the NCCIH account describes a plant known from South America, so some early Spanish reports may describe other passionflower species, not P. incarnata.	s-nccih-passionflower
Traditional medicine in several countries (as listed in a 2013 review)	Sedative tea in North America; analgesic, antispasmodic, anti-asthmatic and worm remedy in Brazil; sedative and narcotic in Iraq; dysmenorrhoea, epilepsy, insomnia, neurosis and neuralgia in Turkey; hysteria and neurasthenia in Poland; diarrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, neuralgia, burns, haemorrhoids and insomnia in America; opiate dependence in India. The review does not give dates or primary sources for these uses.	p24140586
European phytotherapy, documented 1938 to 2003	The EMA found continuous written use of the dried aerial parts for 'mild symptoms of mental stress' and 'to aid sleep' in standard handbooks dated 1938 (Madaus), 1958 (Hoppe), 1977 (List and Hoerhammer) and 2003 (ESCOP). Often used with valerian, hops or lemon balm. Preparations: powder, tea, tinctures and liquid extracts; a liquid extract (1:1, 70% ethanol) has been sold in Germany since at least 1978 and methanol-extracted dry extracts since 1992. The EMA judged the required 30 years of use (15 in the EU) as met for the traditional-use category.	s-ema-ar-passiflora-2008
EU regulatory outcome (2008 assessment; monograph 2014)	The HMPC assessed passionflower herb as plausible for traditional use only, because the four small human studies had serious flaws and could not show 'well-established use'. The final EU monograph (EMA/HMPC/669740/2013, March 2014) was found in a search but not read in full here; this entry rests on the 2008 report.	s-ema-ar-passiflora-2008
Late 20th century onward: modern research	A group in India proposed in 2001-2004 that an unnamed 'benzoflavone' compound explains the plant's effects, while European work from the 2000s onward focused on GABA-related actions of whole extracts. The EMA noted the benzoflavone's structure is not known (see mechanisms).	p15261959

Traditional use shows how a plant was used. It does not show that a supplement works or is safe today.

What is inside, and how it may work

What the plant contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.

Main compounds

Compound	Family	Where it is concentrated	Activity studied	Level of evidence
Isovitexin PubChem 162350	flavone C-glycoside (apigenin-6-C-glucoside)	Aerial parts Not given in the abstracts read. Marker of the usual chemotype (p20522969).	One of the main flavonoids of P. incarnata. In cells, its glucoside form (see below) and isoschaftoside raised Per2 clock-gene mRNA (p28824345). No sedative or anxiolytic action of pure isovitexin on its own was found in the sources read. ^{92 45 9 86 100}	Laboratory research
Vitexin PubChem 5280441	flavone C-glycoside (apigenin-8-C-glucoside)	Aerial parts Not given in the abstracts read. The Pharmacopoeia expresses total flavonoids 'as vitexin' for the dry extract (2.0% minimum), but the EMA text lists isovitexin, not vitexin, among the main flavonoids; vitexin is a reference unit for the test, not proof it is the main compound.	Blocks the transporters OATP2B1 and OATP1A2 and is itself carried by OATP2B1, in cell lines (p33511622). In rats, pure vitexin lost 94.1% to first-pass in the gut and has low oral bioavailability (p24555505). ^{45 9 75 93 90}	Laboratory research
Isoorientin (homoorientin) PubChem 114776	flavone C-glycoside (luteolin-6-C-glucoside)	Aerial parts Not given in the abstracts read.	Named as a major flavonoid in the extract used in the flumazenil-reversible mouse anxiolytic study (p19006051); purified homoorientin also raised Per2 mRNA in cells (p28824345). Its own effect on anxiety was not tested. ^{45 86 80 100}	Laboratory research
Orientin PubChem 5281675	flavone C-glycoside (luteolin-8-C-glucoside)	Aerial parts Found in commercial preparations by HPLC-MS; amounts not read (p33511622).	Blocks OATP2B1 and OATP1A2 and is a substrate of both, in cells (p33511622). Anxiolytic or sedative action not shown for the pure compound in the sources read. ^{45 9 75 80}	Laboratory research
Isovitexin-2''-O-glucoside PubChem 185995	flavone C-glycoside (glycosylated isovitexin)	Aerial parts Not given in the sources read. The EMA mentions '2''-beta-D-glucosides' of isovitexin and isoorientin as typical.	Purified from the extract, raised Per2 mRNA in cells (p28824345). A rat study found a half-life of about 3.5 h after injection and some compound in brain tissue (p37881073). CID matched by name search; confirm the exact isomer if used in a product label. ^{86 97 100}	Animal research
Schaftoside PubChem 442658	flavone di-C-glycoside	Aerial parts Marker of the usual chemotype (low in the swertisin type) (p20522969).	No activity data for the pure compound in the sources read. ^{92 100}	Laboratory research
Isoschaftoside PubChem 3084995	flavone di-C-glycoside	Aerial parts Marker of the usual chemotype (p20522969).	Purified from the extract, raised Per2 mRNA in cells (p28824345). ^{92 86 100}	Laboratory research
Vicenin-2 PubChem 442664	flavone di-C-glycoside (apigenin-6,8-di-C-glucoside)	Aerial parts Listed by the EMA among typical flavonoids; amounts not given.	No activity data in the sources read. ¹⁰⁰	Laboratory research
Swertisin PubChem 124034	flavone C-glycoside (methylated)	Aerial parts High in the second, swertisin-rich chemotype (p20522969).	No activity data in the sources read. Whether swertisin-type plants work differently is unknown. ^{92 100}	Laboratory research
Chrysin PubChem 5281607	flavone (free aglycone)	Aerial parts Not shown in the HPLC papers read; chrysin is described in older papers by one group as a passionflower flavone.	Pure chrysin by injection in rats reduced anxiety about as much as midazolam on a maze test, but the effect was smaller and stress hormones did not change (p17966676). Whether passionflower tea or extract contains meaningful chrysin was not verified; modern chemical profiles of the plant mostly list C-glycosides (p19006051, p20522969). ^{15 78 31}	Animal research
Maltol PubChem 8369	pyranone (small flavouring-type molecule)	Dry extract (a 1974 isolation) Not given. The EMA says maltol may be an artefact formed during processing, not a natural plant compound.	Isolated from a P. incarnata dry extract in 1974 and tested in animals (p4421168; abstract not available). Also tested in mice in 1997, results for maltol alone not given in the abstract (p9234160). Acute toxicity in mice: LD50 820 mg/kg by injection (EMA). Not shown to cause the herb's effects. ^{5 80 100}	Animal research
Harman (harmane) PubChem 5281404	beta-carboline (harmala-type) alkaloid	Aerial parts Traces only. The EMA says harmala-type alkaloids may be present in traces but are undetectable in most commercial materials. A 1971 Italian paper measured harmane and harmine in an extract (p5143366; amounts not read).	Harmala alkaloids as a group are known to inhibit monoamine oxidase-A, but no test showed this for passionflower itself at the amounts present (see mechanisms). In mice, harman was one of the compounds tested alongside the extract (p9234160; results not in abstract). ^{12 9 80 100}	Pharmacological theory
Harmine PubChem 5280953	beta-carboline alkaloid	Aerial parts Traces; often undetectable in commercial material (EMA).	Same caveat as harman. Measured with harman in a 1971 extract (p5143366). ^{12 9 100}	Pharmacological theory
Harmaline PubChem 3564	dihydro-beta-carboline alkaloid	Aerial parts Traces; often undetectable in commercial material (EMA).	Same caveat as harman. Included in the UPLC method that can measure it in plants and supplements (p23074901). ^{9 100}	Pharmacological theory
Harmol PubChem 68094	beta-carboline alkaloid	Aerial parts Traces (EMA).	Same caveat as harman. ^{80 9 100}	Pharmacological theory
Harmalol PubChem 3565	beta-carboline alkaloid	Aerial parts Traces (EMA).	Same caveat as harman. ^{80 9 100}	Pharmacological theory
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) PubChem 119	amino acid and brain neurotransmitter	Extract (whole plant water extract) Described as 'a prominent ingredient' of one water extract, amount not read (p20382514).	The extract produced GABA-A currents in brain slices, and the effect disappeared when amino acids were removed, so the free GABA in the liquid explained it (p20382514). Whether swallowed GABA reaches the brain is not shown here. ³³	Laboratory research
Gynocardin PubChem 13942401	cyanogenic glycoside	Aerial parts Listed by the EMA as present; amount not given.	A compound that can release cyanide when broken down. No toxicity data for passionflower itself were found in the sources read; the EMA found low acute toxicity of the extracts (oral LD50 above 15 g/kg in mice and rats). Safety detail belongs in the safety file. ¹⁰⁰	Laboratory research
Unidentified 'benzoflavone' (BZF)	claimed flavone derivative	Aerial parts Not reported anywhere in the sources read (EMA).	One research group reports an unnamed tri-substituted benzoflavone as the main active compound and proposes it blocks the enzyme aromatase. The EMA says its chemical structure appears not to be known, the amount in the plant is unreported, and no direct aromatase test was found. Treat as unconfirmed. No PubChem entry can be given. ^{31 29 30 100}	Animal research

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
GABA-A receptor, GABA binding site (whole extract)	GABA-A (not subunit-resolved)	A commercial dry extract reduced binding of a GABA-site marker to rat brain GABA-A receptors, while the benzodiazepine site and the ethanol site were not affected (p21089181). ⁶	Laboratory research
GABA-A currents in brain slices	GABA-A (direct currents)	A whole water extract produced dose-dependent GABA-A currents in mouse hippocampal slices, but the currents disappeared when amino acids were removed, so most of the signal was the GABA in the extract rather than a plant compound (p20382514). The expected boosting of the brain's own GABA signals was not seen. ³³	Laboratory research
Benzodiazepine site, indirect evidence in mice	GABA-A / benzodiazepine site	In mice, an extract with orientin, homoorientin, vitexin and isovitexin as main flavonoids was as anxiolytic as diazepam at 375 mg/kg, and flumazenil, a benzodiazepine-site blocker, cancelled it (p19006051). This conflicts with the cell result that the benzodiazepine site was not affected (p21089181); both can be right if the plant acts through a route that flumazenil also blocks, but this is unresolved. A different mouse study found all five extracts of one batch made mice more anxious, not less (p20382514). ^{45 33 6}	Animal research
GABA-B receptor	GABBR1 / GABBR2	The extract acted as a GABA-B antagonist in a cell test (p21089181). A blocker of this receptor is not obviously calming, so the finding does not straightforwardly fit the sedative use. ⁶	Laboratory research
GABA uptake into nerve endings	GABA transporter (type not identified; GAT1/SLC6A1 is the usual one but was not tested)	The extract blocked [3H]-GABA uptake into rat cortical synaptosomes, with no effect on GABA release or the enzyme GABA transaminase (p21089181). Blocking uptake would leave more GABA in the gap between nerves. ⁶	Laboratory research
Monoamine uptake, adenosine and serotonin receptors	SLC6A3 / SLC6A2 / SLC6A4 (dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin transporters); ADORA1, ADORA2A; HTR2A	A standardized extract reduced uptake of dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin into rat synaptosomes and displaced ligands at adenosine A1, A2A and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors; melatonin MT1 and orexin OX1 receptors were unaffected. Active compounds were not identified (p42462921). Transporter genes are the usual names for these uptake sites; the paper measured uptake, not the genes. ⁷	Laboratory research
Monoamine oxidase (MAO-A)	MAOA	Harmala alkaloids inhibit MAO-A as a class, and one mouse paper cites this as a background reason for the antidepressant-like effect it saw (p22107833). That paper did not measure MAO. The EMA says these alkaloids are traces and undetectable in most commercial material. A circadian-gene study found extract changed MAO mRNA in mice, but mRNA is not enzyme activity (p28824345). No direct test of passionflower on MAO enzyme activity was found. This is a theory, not a demonstrated mechanism. ^{78 86 9 100}	Pharmacological theory
Brain chemistry after long-term dosing	glutamate and serotonin pathways	Rats given extract in drinking water for 7 weeks had lower hippocampal glutamate and lower cortical serotonin with higher turnover, less anxiety and better water-maze memory (p26814055). Fits GABA-related action in the authors' view, but it is correlation. ⁴⁸	Animal research
Sleep and melatonin in rodents	GABA receptor mRNA; melatonin	A leaf-and-fruit extract lowered GABA receptor mRNA in rat glioma cells at 6 hours and, in rodents, lengthened immobility and eyelid closure and raised blood melatonin after single and repeated oral doses (p31993179). Human sleep results are in the benefits files. ⁵⁴	Animal research
Clock genes	PER1, PER2, CRY1, BMAL1, CLOCK; also MAO, COMT, GAD mRNA	An aerial-part extract strengthened daily rhythms of several clock genes in mouse cells and mouse liver and brain. Purified isovitexin-2''-glucoside, isoschaftoside and homoorientin each raised Per2 mRNA. Mice slept sooner and longer, like the GABA-A agonist muscimol (p28824345). Authors work for an extract maker. ⁸⁶	Animal research
Seizure protection	GABAergic and monoamine pathways (not resolved)	A hydroethanolic extract lowered seizure severity and the low-mood-like immobility after seizures in mice, and kept brain serotonin and noradrenaline from falling (p22107833). In the cell study, two of five extracts protected against seizures while all five raised anxiety, so results depend on how the extract is made (p20382514). ^{78 33}	Animal research
Aromatase hypothesis (unidentified 'benzoflavone')	CYP19A1 (aromatase)	One research group proposes a compound in the plant blocks aromatase, raising free testosterone, and uses this to explain effects on drug withdrawal and sexual behaviour in rodents (p14690874, p12935433). The EMA found no direct aromatase test and no known structure. A pregnancy study in rats saw male offspring with disrupted sexual behaviour at 300 mg/kg and suggested aromatase inhibition, but testosterone was unchanged (p22958428). Unproven hypothesis. ^{31 29 10 100}	Pharmacological theory
Drug transporters in the gut and liver	SLCO2B1 (OATP2B1), SLCO1A2 (OATP1A2)	Orientin, vitexin and apigenin blocked both transporters in cell lines, and commercial P. incarnata preparations also blocked them (p33511622). These transporters help take up some drugs, so this is a possible but untested route for interactions in people. ⁷⁵	Laboratory research
Drug-metabolising enzymes and pumps	CYP3A4, CYP2C, ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein), GGT	A P. incarnata infusion raised CYP3A4 mRNA in human liver cells and lowered total glutathione (p36278236). Pure vitexin changed CYP3A and CYP2C activity in rats (p25447838). Not tested in people. ^{60 90}	Laboratory research
Human brain-wave and alertness test	EEG	In the only human mechanism-type test the EMA found, 12 healthy women took a passion flower extract (1.2 g), placebo or diazepam (10 mg). Passion flower could not be told from placebo on EEG or alertness ratings, and no statistical test was done (Schulz 1998, as described in the EMA report; the original paper was not read). ¹⁰⁰	Human data

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: No human data on how passionflower compounds are absorbed were found in the sources read; the EMA says the same. In rats, pure vitexin lost 94.1% to first-pass in the gut, 31.3% in the stomach and 5.2% in the liver, leaving low oral bioavailability (p24555505). The four flavone C-glucosides of a bamboo-leaf extract (orientin, homoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, the same compounds that dominate passionflower) were poorly absorbed in rats (p17313710). These are pure compounds or another plant in rats, not passionflower in people.
Distribution: No human data. In rats, injected isovitexin-2''-O-glucoside reached the highest levels in liver, kidney and intestine, and some was found in brain tissue, which the authors read as a sign it can cross the blood-brain barrier (p37881073). Whether swallowed passionflower compounds reach the brain in people is not shown.
Metabolism: No human data. In rats, flavone C-glucosides from bamboo leaf were partly broken down by losing the sugar and opening the ring into small phenolic acids such as phloroglucinol, hydrocaffeic acid and phloretic acid (p17313710). Pure vitexin altered rat liver CYP3A and CYP2C activity (p25447838). Human metabolism of passionflower flavonoids is not established.
Elimination: Not established in humans. Rat data: injected isovitexin-2''-O-glucoside had a half-life of 3.49 +/- 0.99 h and clearance of 54.53 +/- 11.90 mL/kg/h (p37881073). In the bamboo C-glucoside rat study, more than 50% of the compounds was still recovered at 12 h and faeces held 21% at 24 h (p17313710).
Bioavailability: Not established in humans and not measured for any passionflower extract in the sources read. Rat data on pure compounds suggest low oral bioavailability for vitexin. Because extraction method changes how much flavonoid ends up in the liquid (hot versus cold gave much more flavonoid, p20382514), the dose a person actually absorbs from a tea or tincture can vary a lot. Quoted rat and cell results should not be turned into human numbers.

^{93 96 97 90 33 100}

Isolated compounds versus whole extracts

No single compound has been shown to explain passionflower's effects. The EMA report says it is not clear which constituents are responsible and that the proposed 'benzoflavone' has no known structure (s-ema-ar-passiflora-2008). Pure chrysin by injection reduced anxiety in rats about as well as midazolam but less strongly (p17966676), yet chrysin may not be a main component of the herb. How the plant is extracted matters: hot extraction gave much more flavonoid than cold, only two of five extracts of one batch protected against seizures, and all five extracts raised anxiety in mice (p20382514). Whole-extract tests found activity at the GABA uptake site, at GABA-A and GABA-B receptors and at adenosine and serotonin receptors, with the active compounds still unidentified (p21089181, p42462921). The GABA in a water extract alone produced its brain-slice currents (p20382514). Products from different makers differed from none to full activity in mice (p12165186), and the plant parts matter (roots and flowers dilute the effect, p11731118). Two chemical types of the plant exist (p20522969). So extract type, plant part, species and chemotype all change what a product is likely to do, and results on one product cannot be assumed for another.

Nutritional composition

A nutrient table is not meaningful for passionflower herb: it is taken as a small amount of dried aerial parts as tea, a tincture or an extract for its plant compounds, not as a food. No vitamin or mineral content was verified for the herb and none is claimed here. The fruit of P. incarnata (maypop) is a traditional food of Southeastern Native American peoples, eaten raw or as juice (s-ethnobotany-fritz-maypop); no nutrient analysis was read. Do not confuse it with the commercial passion fruit, which is P. edulis. Leaf extract in a test-tube study held phenols and flavonoids with antioxidant effect in the lab (p35775275), which is not a nutrition claim. The EMA lists an essential oil at trace level with more than 150 components, and the cyanogenic glycoside gynocardin, whose safety is covered in the safety file.

19benefits and uses looked at

103studies and sources checked

Low certaintybest evidence rating found

21lab markers tracked in trials

6 low certainty5 very low certainty8 not enough evidence

What was looked at

The 19 benefits and uses checked for Passionflower, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.

Generalized anxiety (compared with oxazepam and mexazolam)Low certainty
Anxiety before surgery and dental workLow certainty
Sleep and insomnia (single-herb tea and extract)Low certainty
Combination products with passionflower (sleep, stress, anxiety)Not enough evidence
Opioid withdrawal symptomsVery low certainty
Helping people come off benzodiazepinesVery low certainty
ADHD in childrenVery low certainty
Everyday stress and nervous restlessnessLow certainty
Mood and depressionNot enough evidence
Mood and sleep around the menopauseNot enough evidence
Knee osteoarthritis (passion fruit peel, Passiflora edulis)Very low certainty
Asthma symptoms and coughVery low certainty
Blood sugar and diabetes controlLow certainty
Blood pressureNot enough evidence
Menopause and hot flashesNot enough evidence
PainNot enough evidence
Digestive upset, muscle cramps and hemorrhoidsNot enough evidence
ADHD in childrenNot enough evidence
Physical symptoms of opioid withdrawalLow certainty

Lab markers tracked in the studies

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)Anxiety rating (VAS or numeric scale)Saliva cortisolHeart rate and blood pressure around surgeryThinking and reaction tests (digit-symbol, dot test)Sleep quality rating (sleep diary)Total sleep time on overnight sleep recordingInsomnia Severity Index, Perceived Stress Scale and General Health QuestionnaireShort Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS)Benzodiazepine dose reductionADHD Rating Scales (parent and teacher)Resilience scale (RS-13) and quality of life (EQ-VAS)Kupperman Index (menopause symptoms)DASS-21 (depression, anxiety and stress scale)WOMAC osteoarthritis scoreForced vital capacity (FVC)Fasting blood glucoseGlycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)Triglycerides

What is Passionflower good for?

Every use below is low or weaker. Reviews of the same few trials disagree: a 2007 Cochrane review said there were too few trials to conclude anything, while a 2018 review of herbal medicines called the anxiety evidence high quality. We rate it low because the trials are small, short and use different products. Uses where the human trials used passion fruit peel (a different plant) are labelled that way.

Anxiety (generalised anxiety disorder)Low certaintyOne small 4-week trial of 36 people found a liquid extract worked about as well as the drug oxazepam, which acted faster. A Cochrane review (2007) found only two trials and said that was too few to draw a conclusion. A 2018 review called the evidence for passionflower in anxiety high quality, and a 2020 review of 9 trials found most reported lower anxiety, with a less clear effect in people with only mild symptoms. These reviews rest on the same few studies, so we rate it low. Anxiety before surgery or dental workLow certaintySeveral small trials gave a single dose before wisdom-tooth removal or surgery. Two placebo-controlled trials of 60 people each found less anxiety than placebo without extra sleepiness, and some trials found it comparable to the sedative midazolam. Others found no difference on the anxiety questionnaires. Products differed and the trials were small. Sleep and insomniaLow certaintyA week of passionflower tea gave healthy adults slightly better self-rated sleep quality than placebo tea (only one of six sleep-diary measures improved). In a 2-week trial of 110 adults with insomnia, total sleep time on overnight sleep recording rose more than with placebo, while other sleep measures did not beat placebo. A 30-day trial in people with stress and sleep problems also found gains. Effects were small and the trials short. Everyday stress and nervous restlessnessLow certaintyA 12-week German study with no comparison group saw large gains in resilience and quality of life, which cannot be credited to the herb. A placebo-controlled trial of 65 adults with stress and sleep problems found lower perceived stress after 30 days. Both are limited. Opioid withdrawalVery low certaintyOne small 2-week trial in Iran added passionflower drops to the standard withdrawal drug clonidine. Physical symptoms improved the same in both groups; mental symptoms were better with passionflower added. It has not been repeated. This is not a substitute for medical care of withdrawal. Helping people come off benzodiazepinesVery low certaintyIn an Italian clinic, 186 outpatients tapering off benzodiazepines (93 with passionflower extract added, 93 matched patients without) cut or stopped their dose more often with passionflower. This was a look back at patient records, not a randomised trial, so it cannot prove the herb caused the difference. Never stop a benzodiazepine on your own, because stopping suddenly can be dangerous. ADHD in childrenVery low certaintyOne small 8-week Iranian trial (34 children, no placebo group) is reported to have found passionflower about as good as methylphenidate. We could not read the original paper, so its details are unverified. Two reviews rate the evidence low and say no recommendation can be made. Do not use it in place of treatment. Blends that include passionflowerNot enough evidenceSeveral blends (for example valerian, passionflower and hops) beat placebo or matched a sleeping pill in some trials. Because every blend has several herbs and none was tested against its parts, none of these results can be credited to passionflower. Mood and depressionNot enough evidenceNo trial of passionflower alone in depression was found. Some reviews say it may help mood, without trial data. Do not use passionflower in place of treatment for depression. Menopause symptoms and hot flashesNot enough evidenceThe only study found used a four-ingredient supplement and had no comparison group, so the effect of passionflower cannot be known. Two reviews mention menopause symptoms without naming a trial. Pain, stomach upset and crampsNot enough evidenceNo human trial was found. In rats, extract raised pain thresholds, and the plant has traditional use for cramps and stomach upset. This does not show the same in people. Knee pain, asthma, blood sugar (passion fruit peel, a different plant)Very low certaintyEvery human trial we found for these body uses used the peel of the passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), a different species from passionflower herb (Passiflora incarnata). They found less knee pain and asthma symptoms in single small trials, and lower fasting blood sugar with peel flour in people with type 2 diabetes. None of this tells us anything about passionflower herb, and no human trial of Passiflora incarnata for these uses was found. Blood pressureNot enough evidenceNo human trial of passionflower or passion fruit peel for blood pressure was found. Only rat studies of passion fruit peel show lower blood pressure.

Benefits, one by one

Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.

Generalized anxiety (compared with oxazepam and mexazolam)

Low certainty

Passionflower is best known as a calming herb for anxiety. The best human evidence is one small 4-week trial of 36 people where a liquid extract worked about as well as the drug oxazepam. A Cochrane review found only two trials in total and said that is too few to draw any conclusion. Newer reviews are more upbeat but rest on the same few studies.

10 studiesLiquid extract in drops, 45 drops a day, for 4 weeks in the oxazepam …

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Akhondzadeh 2001 randomised 36 outpatients with generalised anxiety disorder to 45 drops a day of a Passiflora incarnata liquid extract or oxazepam 30 mg a day for 4 weeks. Both worked and there was no significant difference between them. Oxazepam worked faster, and more people on oxazepam had trouble with job performance. The Cochrane review (Miyasaka 2007) found two trials in total (198 participants): one against oxazepam and one against the drug mexazolam. It reported no difference in effect versus the benzodiazepine, a non-significant trend to less drowsiness with passiflora versus mexazolam, and concluded the trials were too few to draw any conclusion. The mexazolam trial is not named in the review abstract and could not be found on PubMed, so it was not checked. Ernst 2006, a review of single-herb trials, concluded that only kava has been shown beyond reasonable doubt to reduce anxiety in humans, and Miroddi 2013 judged the passiflora trials weak. An open-label 2026 study of a different species, Passiflora alata (Barros; about 30 adults with mild to moderate anxiety, no control group), reported improvement on the GAD-7 scale in 29 people; it is listed only for context and does not count as evidence for Passiflora incarnata. A 2020 systematic review of nine trials (Janda) found most reported less anxiety, with less effect in people whose anxiety was only mild. Sarris 2018 described the evidence for Passiflora species in anxiety disorders as high quality, which is more positive than the other reviews and is the reviewer's own wording, not a formal GRADE rating.

Results

Mixed and thin. One small pilot showed passionflower about as good as oxazepam over 4 weeks. No large placebo-controlled trial in generalised anxiety disorder exists in what was found.

Effect sizes as reported

No numbers for the oxazepam comparison are given in the abstract (no significant difference between groups). Cochrane: no pooled estimate.

Why this rating

One 36-person pilot and a second small trial; no placebo-only comparison in generalised anxiety disorder; reviews disagree (Cochrane: too few trials; Sarris: high quality). No GRADE rating found.

Form and dose studied

Liquid extract in drops, 45 drops a day, for 4 weeks in the oxazepam trial. The strength and brand are not stated in the abstract. Other extract and tablet forms were used in other anxiety settings, see the other entries.

Who was studied

Adult outpatients with generalised anxiety disorder (DSM-IV). Nothing found for panic disorder, social anxiety or children with anxiety disorders.

Limits

Pilot size (18 per group), 4 weeks, no placebo arm, unclear product. Only abstracts were read for this profile.

Why researchers looked

Passionflower has been used for centuries as a calming herb, and anxiety is its main modern use in Europe.

Traditional use

Used as a traditional sedative and anxiety remedy in Europe since the 19th century and as a sedative tea in North America (Miroddi 2013; Canella 2019 describe the history).

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Lab work suggests passionflower flavonoids (vitexin, orientin and related compounds) act on the brain's calming GABA system. In rat brain tissue the extract reduced GABA uptake and bound to GABA-A and GABA-B receptors, but did not touch the benzodiazepine site (Appel 2011). In mice, an anxiety-reducing effect similar to diazepam was cancelled by flumazenil, a benzodiazepine blocker (Grundmann 2008), which does not match the first finding. So the exact way it works is unsettled. This is lab and animal work, not proof of how it acts in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

In the oxazepam trial there was no significant difference in dropout, and fewer job-performance problems with passiflora. See the safety tab.

^{1 65 47 64 74 37 11 63 6 45}

Anxiety before surgery and dental work

Low certainty

Several small trials gave passionflower to people just before wisdom-tooth removal, gum treatment or surgery. Some found less anxiety than placebo and some found it worked about as well as the sedative midazolam, with fewer side effects. Others found no difference on the anxiety questionnaires. It is a short, single-dose use.

12 studiesOral tablets or extract, one dose 30 to 90 minutes before the procedu…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Placebo-controlled: Movafegh 2008 (60 outpatients, 500 mg 90 minutes before surgery) found lower anxiety than placebo (P<0.001) with no extra sedation. Aslanargun 2012 (60 patients before spinal anaesthesia) found anxiety rose less than with placebo and psychomotor function was unchanged. Kaviani 2013 (63 people before gum treatment) found anxiety scores fell from 12.09 to 8.47 with passionflower drops, against 12.00 to 10.52 with placebo and 11.66 to 11.23 with no treatment (p<0.0001); only one side was blinded. da Cunha 2021 (200 people before wisdom-tooth removal, 500 mg an hour before) found passiflora similar to midazolam 15 mg and different from placebo and from Erythrina mulungu, which did not work. Velasquez 2024 (54 patients) found STAI state anxiety fell with passiflora and with valerian but not with placebo. Against that, Lima Neto 2025 (30 patients, 10 per group) found no difference in anxiety questionnaires, although saliva cortisol was lower than placebo (see biomarkers), and Zampieri 2025 (210 surgery patients) found a chamomile, passionflower and aniseed tea no better than placebo tea on anxiety. Compared with active drugs: Dantas 2017 (40 volunteers, 260 mg) and Christoffoli 2021 (20 volunteers) found passiflora similar to midazolam on heart rate, blood pressure and reported anxiety, with less drowsiness and no amnesia, but had no placebo arm. Rokhtabnak 2017 (52 patients, 1000 mg) found passiflora lowered anxiety as much as melatonin 6 mg but caused more thinking impairment on the digit-symbol test. A 2026 systematic review of preoperative anxiety in oral surgery (Stonkute, 8 trials) found passiflora comparable to midazolam and better than placebo.

Results

More positive than not for a single pre-procedure dose, mostly in dental surgery, but small trials with different products and some null results.

Effect sizes as reported

Kaviani 2013 anxiety score 12.09 to 8.47 (passionflower) vs 12.00 to 10.52 (placebo) vs 11.66 to 11.23 (no treatment), p<0.0001. Movafegh 2008 P<0.001 vs placebo. Dantas 2017 and da Cunha 2021 give no anxiety scores in the abstract.

Why this rating

Many small single-dose trials, most with unclear blinding or products; some active-comparator trials have no placebo arm; at least two trials were null on questionnaires. No review gave a GRADE rating.

Form and dose studied

Oral tablets or extract, one dose 30 to 90 minutes before the procedure: 500 mg (Movafegh; da Cunha), 260 mg (Dantas), 1000 mg (Rokhtabnak), drops (Kaviani); doses not stated in several abstracts. Brands differ (Passipy, Nature Made and others).

Who was studied

Healthy adults and young adults having wisdom-tooth removal, gum treatment, outpatient surgery or spinal anaesthesia. Not tested in children, frail people or major surgery.

Limits

Small groups, single dose, many with no placebo group or one-sided blinding, product details missing. Only abstracts were read.

Why researchers looked

People are often very anxious before a procedure. A calming herb that does not make them sleepy or confused would help, so dentists and anaesthetists have tested it.

Traditional use

Not a traditional use; it grows out of the traditional use of passionflower as a calming herb.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Compared with midazolam there was less drowsiness, dizziness and no amnesia (Dantas; Christoffoli). One trial found more thinking impairment than melatonin (Rokhtabnak). Diastolic blood pressure was higher with passiflora in Lima Neto 2025.

^{66 8 51 98 89 58 24 22 73 94 84 49}

Sleep and insomnia (single-herb tea and extract)

Low certainty

Passionflower is a common bedtime herb. A week of tea gave healthy adults slightly better self-rated sleep quality than placebo tea. Two small extract trials in people with insomnia or stress found gains in total sleep time. Effects are small and the trials are short.

4 studiesTea: one cup a day for a week (strength not in abstract). Extract: do…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Ngan 2011: 41 healthy adults aged 18 to 35 drank a cup of passionflower tea or placebo tea each evening for a week in a crossover design. Of six sleep-diary measures, only sleep quality was better (t(40)=2.70, p<0.01); 10 people also had overnight sleep recording. Lee 2020: 110 adults with insomnia took a passionflower extract or placebo for 2 weeks. Total sleep time on overnight sleep recording rose by 23.05 versus -0.16 with placebo (P=0.049; the abstract gives no unit). Sleep efficiency and time awake after falling asleep improved within the passionflower group but not versus placebo. Harit 2024: 65 adults with stress and insomnia took the standardised extract SIVI at bedtime for 30 days. Total sleep time was higher than with placebo and perceived stress was lower, with no adverse effects reported; numbers are not in the abstract and company staff co-authored. Combination products that include passionflower are covered separately.

Results

Small gains in sleep quality or total sleep time in short trials; none showed a large effect.

Effect sizes as reported

Ngan 2011: sleep quality t(40)=2.70, p<0.01. Lee 2020: total sleep time change 23.05 +/- 54.26 vs -0.16 +/- 53.12, P=0.049.

Why this rating

Three small trials of different forms (tea, two extracts), 1 to 4 weeks, one in healthy people, one borderline p-value, one with industry authors and no numbers in the abstract. No review gave a GRADE rating for sleep.

Form and dose studied

Tea: one cup a day for a week (strength not in abstract). Extract: dose not stated in the abstracts for Lee 2020 or Harit 2024 (taken for 2 weeks and 30 days). Do not assume the tea and extracts act alike.

Who was studied

Healthy adults with mild sleep changes (tea); adults with DSM-5 insomnia disorder (Lee); adults with stress and insomnia in India (Harit). Not tested in older adults, children or for longer than 30 days.

Limits

Short, small, different products; most sleep outcomes were not better than placebo; abstracts only.

Why researchers looked

Passionflower is traditionally used as a sedative, and sleep trouble is among its most common reasons for use.

Traditional use

Used in Europe and North America as a sleep-promoting herb, often as a tea.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

Rodent work found more sleep-like behaviour, and higher blood melatonin after a Passiflora incarnata extract (Kim 2020). Lab results on the calming GABA system are summarised under anxiety. These are animal and cell studies.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No adverse effects reported in Harit 2024. A case report of possible REM behaviour disorder after passionflower use has been published (Barone 2025); no details were read, see the safety tab.

^{69 55 46 54}

Combination products with passionflower (sleep, stress, anxiety)

Not enough evidence

Many studies use blends such as valerian plus passionflower plus hops, or passionflower with lemon balm and others. Some blends beat placebo or matched a sleeping pill, but because several herbs are in each product, none of these results can be credited to passionflower alone.

7 studiesFixed-combination tablets or capsules; strengths and the amount of pa…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Euphytose (hawthorn, ballota, passionflower, valerian, cola, paullinia), Bourin 1997: 182 outpatients with adjustment disorder with anxious mood took 2 tablets three times a day for 28 days. 42.9% had a Hamilton anxiety score under 10 versus 25.3% on placebo (P=0.012). NSF-3 (valerian, Passiflora incarnata, hops), Maroo 2013: 91 adults with primary insomnia took NSF-3 or zolpidem 10 mg for 2 weeks; sleep improved in both with no significant difference; there was no placebo group. Ze 185 (valerian, lemon balm, passionflower, butterbur): in a laboratory stress test in 72 healthy men self-reported anxiety was lower than with placebo (p=0.03) but the cortisol response was not different (Meier 2018); in a retrospective study of 3,252 psychiatric inpatients, those given Ze 185 had fewer benzodiazepine prescriptions (p=0.006) with comparable clinical effect (Keck 2020). Novanuit (melatonin, vitamin B6, California poppy, passionflower, lemon balm), Lemoine 2019: 40 adults with mild to moderate insomnia, open label, sleep quality 5.4 to 7.3 out of 10 in 2 weeks. A fixed combination of St John's wort, valerian and passionflower in 115 children aged 6 to 12 with nervous agitation was followed for about 2 years and parents and doctors reported improvement (Trompetter 2013), without a control group. A chamomile, passionflower and aniseed tea did not beat placebo tea on anxiety before surgery (Zampieri 2025).

Results

Mixed. Several blends did better than placebo or matched a drug, but we cannot say passionflower is the reason.

Effect sizes as reported

Euphytose: HAM-A below 10 in 42.9% vs 25.3% (P=0.012). Ze 185 stress test: anxiety response p=0.03 vs placebo. Ze 185 inpatients: fewer benzodiazepine prescriptions p=0.006. Novanuit: sleep quality +1.9 points on a 0-10 scale.

Why this rating

Passionflower's own contribution cannot be separated in any of these products; several trials have no placebo arm or no control group; several have company staff among the authors.

Form and dose studied

Fixed-combination tablets or capsules; strengths and the amount of passionflower in each are not given in the abstracts. Do not compare these with single-herb products.

Who was studied

Outpatients with adjustment disorder, adults with insomnia, healthy men in a stress test, psychiatric inpatients, children aged 6 to 12 with nervous agitation.

Limits

Blends, not passionflower; uncontrolled designs; company involvement; abstracts only.

Why researchers looked

Herbal calming products are often blends, so trials test the blend as sold.

Traditional use

Blends of calming herbs are widely sold in Europe.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Each blend has several herbs that may act on GABA, serotonin or other calming pathways. Which herb does what in a blend is not known.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Mostly mild and similar to placebo or zolpidem in the trials read (drowsiness was commonest). Interactions of herbs in the blend (e.g. St John's wort) are covered on the safety tab.

^{13 59 62 52 56 87 94}

Opioid withdrawal symptoms

Very low certainty

One small 2-week trial in Iran added passionflower drops to the standard withdrawal drug clonidine. Physical withdrawal symptoms improved the same in both groups, but mood and mental symptoms were better with passionflower added. It has not been repeated.

3 studiesLiquid extract 60 drops a day plus clonidine up to 0.8 mg a day for 1…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Akhondzadeh 2001: 65 outpatients with opioid dependence were randomised to clonidine plus Passiflora incarnata drops (60 drops a day) or clonidine plus placebo drops for 14 days. Withdrawal was scored with the Short Opiate Withdrawal Scale. Both groups improved equally on physical symptoms; the passiflora group did significantly better on mental symptoms. The authors called for a larger study.

Results

Positive on mental symptoms in one small trial; no replication found.

Effect sizes as reported

Numbers are not given in the abstract.

Why this rating

A single small, short trial from one group with no replication, and no numbers visible in the abstract.

Form and dose studied

Liquid extract 60 drops a day plus clonidine up to 0.8 mg a day for 14 days.

Who was studied

Adult outpatients with DSM-IV opioid dependence in detoxification, Iran.

Limits

One trial, outpatients, 2 weeks, passiflora only as an add-on. This is not a treatment for opioid dependence.

Why researchers looked

Opioid detox with clonidine eases body symptoms but does little for anxiety and restlessness, so a calming herb was tried as an add-on.

Traditional use

Passiflora incarnata has been used for opiate dependence in India (Miroddi 2013).

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In mice made dependent on morphine, a Passiflora incarnata herbal reduced withdrawal jumping at 50 and 100 mg/kg (injected) (Izolan 2021). This is animal work and does not show the same happens in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Opioid withdrawal should be supervised by a doctor.

^{2 32 64}

Helping people come off benzodiazepines

Very low certainty

In an Italian clinic, outpatients tapering off long-term benzodiazepines (sleeping and anxiety pills) who also took a passionflower dry extract cut or stopped their dose more often than similar patients who did not. This was a look back at patient records, not a trial, so it cannot prove the herb caused the difference.

3 studiesDry extract of Passiflora incarnata herba, 200 mg versus 400 to 600 m…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Zanardi 2023 compared 186 outpatients with anxiety or depression in remission who were tapering benzodiazepines, 93 with a Passiflora incarnata herba dry extract added and 93 matched patients without. At 1 and 3 months more patients cut their dose by half with passiflora (p<0.001) and more stopped completely (month 1 p=0.002; month 3 p=0.016). Carminati 2024 followed the patients for 12 months and reported the benefit lasted, passiflora could be stopped with no rebound, withdrawal or dependence, and no side effects were seen. Carminati 2026 reanalysed the same 186 patients: passiflora and cognitive behavioural therapy each predicted bigger dose cuts and did better together; those on 400 to 600 mg cut more than those on 200 mg.

Results

Positive in a retrospective single-centre comparison.

Effect sizes as reported

Passiflora p<0.001, effect size 0.128; CBT p=0.005, effect size 0.032; interaction p=0.037 (Carminati 2026). Complete stop: p=0.002 (1 month), p=0.016 (3 months) (Zanardi 2023).

Why this rating

Retrospective, not randomised or blinded, one clinic, same patients across three reports. No controlled trial found.

Form and dose studied

Dry extract of Passiflora incarnata herba, 200 mg versus 400 to 600 mg a day in the subgroup analysis (observational).

Who was studied

Outpatients with anxiety or depression in remission on long-term benzodiazepines, Milan.

Limits

Records review; selection bias possible; dose groups were not randomised. Benzodiazepines should only be tapered with a doctor.

Why researchers looked

Benzodiazepines are hard to stop and a herb that calms without dependence could help during withdrawal.

Traditional use

No traditional use for this purpose was found.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Not known. The idea is that passionflower acts on the same calming GABA system as benzodiazepines but more gently; the lab data on this are mixed (see anxiety).

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No side effects were reported in the follow-up. Stopping benzodiazepines can be dangerous without medical supervision.

^{95 18 19}

ADHD in children

Very low certainty

One small 8-week Iranian trial reported that passionflower worked about as well as methylphenidate (Ritalin) for children's ADHD symptoms, with fewer side effects. Reviews call the evidence low and say no recommendation can be made.

5 studiesTablets, dose reported only second-hand (see above).

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

The only trial found is Akhondzadeh 2005 (Therapy 2005;2:609-614): 34 children and adolescents with ADHD, passionflower tablets versus methylphenidate for 8 weeks, parent and teacher ADHD rating scales at five time points. According to a 2023 review (Golsorkhi) both groups improved clearly with no significant difference between them, and appetite loss and nervousness were more common with methylphenidate. This record is NOT verified from the original paper, which is not on PubMed; it comes from the review's text and table (reported as 0.04 mg/kg/day passiflora and 1 mg/kg/day methylphenidate in two daily doses, not checked against the original). Anheyer 2017 (9 ADHD herb trials, 464 children) found low evidence for Passiflora incarnata, Melissa and valerian, and Golsorkhi 2023 (15 studies) said no firm recommendation is possible. Noorazar 2024 and Rigillo 2025 list it as promising.

Results

Equal to methylphenidate in one small trial with no placebo group; not replicated.

Effect sizes as reported

Numbers not seen; reported as no significant difference between groups.

Why this rating

One small unblinded-in-places trial, no placebo group, original not read, no replication.

Form and dose studied

Tablets, dose reported only second-hand (see above).

Who was studied

Children and adolescents with ADHD in Iran.

Limits

Second-hand detail; no placebo; 8 weeks. Do not replace ADHD treatment with a herb without a doctor.

Why researchers looked

Families look for gentler options than stimulant drugs for ADHD, and passionflower is a calming herb.

Traditional use

No traditional ADHD use found.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

No ADHD-specific mechanism is established. The general calming effects on GABA are a theory only.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

The review reported fewer side effects than with methylphenidate in this one trial.

^{3 42 4 70 72}

Everyday stress and nervous restlessness

Low certainty

Beyond anxiety disorders, two studies looked at everyday stress. A 12-week German study without a control group saw big gains in resilience and quality of life, and a placebo-controlled trial in India found lower perceived stress. Both are limited.

3 studiesDry ethanolic extract for 12 weeks (Gibbert); SIVI standardised aeria…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Gibbert 2017: adults with nervous restlessness took a dry ethanolic extract for 12 weeks in routine care. Resilience (RS-13) rose from 52.1 to 67.7 and quality of life (EQ-VAS) from 47.9 to 75.0 (both p<0.001); three mild cases of tiredness were reported; no control group. Harit 2024: in 65 adults with stress and insomnia, SIVI for 30 days lowered the Perceived Stress Scale and raised the General Health Questionnaire score more than placebo; numbers not in the abstract; company staff co-authored. Meier 2018 tested a four-herb blend (Ze 185) in a laboratory stress test; anxiety response was lower but cortisol response was not different.

Results

Positive in one uncontrolled study and one placebo-controlled trial, both small or short.

Effect sizes as reported

RS-13 52.1 to 67.7; EQ-VAS 47.9 to 75.0 (Gibbert 2017, no control). Harit 2024: significant vs placebo, no numbers in abstract.

Why this rating

One uncontrolled study (which cannot separate the herb from natural improvement or placebo effect) and one small trial with company authors.

Form and dose studied

Dry ethanolic extract for 12 weeks (Gibbert); SIVI standardised aerial-parts extract at bedtime for 30 days (Harit). Doses not stated in the abstracts.

Who was studied

Adults with nervous restlessness; adults with stress and insomnia.

Limits

Uncontrolled design; small; only abstracts read.

Why researchers looked

Passionflower is sold for stress and restlessness, not only for diagnosed anxiety.

Traditional use

Used in Europe for nervousness and restlessness (regulatory status is covered in the safety file).

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Three mild adverse events (tiredness) in Gibbert 2017; none in Harit 2024.

^{41 46 62}

Mood and depression

Not enough evidence

No trial of passionflower on its own for depression was found. A few reviews say it may help mood and the Italian benzodiazepine studies included people with depression, but nothing shows passionflower treats low mood.

3 studiesNot applicable.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No randomised trial of Passiflora incarnata alone in people with depression was found. The Janda 2020 systematic review mentions depression among neuropsychiatric disorders but its nine trials were mainly about anxiety. The benzodiazepine-tapering studies (Zanardi 2023) enrolled patients with anxiety or depression in remission, and measured benzodiazepine dose, not mood. Kim 2017 (a short review on menopause) states passiflora affects depression but gives no trial data in the abstract.

Results

No direct evidence.

Why this rating

No controlled trial in depression.

Who was studied

No trial population.

Limits

Absence of trials. Do not use passionflower in place of treatment for depression.

Why researchers looked

Anxiety and low mood often go together, and some reviews list depression among passionflower's uses.

Traditional use

Not a recognised traditional use for depression in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

No mechanism for mood is established in people. Lab work on the GABA system is summarised under anxiety.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

If low mood lasts or you have thoughts of harming yourself, speak to a doctor or emergency service. Passionflower with antidepressants needs medical advice (see safety tab).

^{47 95 53}

Mood and sleep around the menopause

Not enough evidence

Only one uncontrolled study could be found, using a four-ingredient supplement that includes passionflower. Women's menopause symptom scores fell over six months, but there was no comparison group and no way to say what the passionflower did.

2 studiesMulti-ingredient supplement for 6 months; passiflora amount not in th…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Caruso 2017: 60 perimenopausal women with hot flashes took a supplement containing equol, resveratrol, quercetin and passiflora (Zemiar) for 6 months. The Kupperman menopause index fell from 35 to 21 at 3 months and to 18 at 6 months, and quality of life improved. There was no control group. Kim 2017 is a short review that says passiflora affects menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia and depression but gives no trial data in the abstract.

Results

Cannot say; the single study has no control group and a multi-ingredient product.

Effect sizes as reported

Kupperman index 35 to 21 to 18 (no control).

Why this rating

One uncontrolled study of a four-ingredient product.

Form and dose studied

Multi-ingredient supplement for 6 months; passiflora amount not in the abstract.

Who was studied

Perimenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms, Italy.

Limits

No control, combination product. Hot-flash treatment itself belongs with the body-uses section.

Why researchers looked

Hot flashes, poor sleep and mood changes are common in menopause, and calming herbs are sometimes tried.

Traditional use

No traditional menopause use was verified.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

No menopause-specific mechanism is established.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Not assessed in the abstract.

^{21 53}

Knee osteoarthritis (passion fruit peel, Passiflora edulis)

Very low certainty

One small trial of a purple passion fruit peel extract found less knee pain, stiffness and trouble moving after two months than placebo. This is a different plant from passionflower herb (Passiflora incarnata) and the evidence is a single very small study from Iran.

1 studiesPurple passion fruit peel extract (Passiflora edulis) 150 mg a day fo…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Farid 2010, Mashhad, Iran): 33 adults with knee osteoarthritis took 150 mg a day of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) peel extract or placebo for 2 months. Total WOMAC score and physical function improved by 30 days and pain by 60 days. At 60 days self-reported pain, stiffness, physical function and total scores were 18.6%, 18%, 19.6% and 19.2% lower in the treated group, while placebo scores got worse in every category. Two larger reviews of supplements for osteoarthritis exist (Liu 2018, Chen 2025) but their abstracts were not read for passion fruit results, so nothing is claimed from them.

Results

Self-reported knee pain, stiffness and function improved with the peel extract over 2 months and worsened with placebo.

Effect sizes as reported

Percent changes at 60 days: pain -18.6%, stiffness -18%, physical function -19.6%, composite WOMAC -19.2%. No confidence intervals or between-group effect sizes in the abstract.

Why this rating

One trial of 33 people, 2 months long, self-reported scores, no group sizes or dropouts in the abstract, no replication found. This rating is the compiler's.

Form and dose studied

Purple passion fruit peel extract (Passiflora edulis) 150 mg a day for 2 months. This extract is not passionflower herb and should not be assumed to work like it.

Who was studied

Adults with knee osteoarthritis, Iran.

Limits

Single small study from one research group; symptoms only, no X-ray or joint measures; nothing is known beyond 2 months; no comparison with standard pain treatments.

Why researchers looked

Osteoarthritis is a common cause of joint pain. Passion fruit peel is rich in flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in the lab.

Traditional use

No traditional use of passionflower herb for joint disease is documented in the sources read. The peel of the passion fruit is a food by-product, not a traditional medicine.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

The trial authors suggest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action of the peel's flavonoids. The abstract shows no measurement of these effects.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

The abstract reports no safety findings. Anyone with joint disease should check with a doctor or pharmacist before adding supplements.

³⁶

Asthma symptoms and cough

Very low certainty

A 4-week trial of purple passion fruit peel extract found less wheeze, cough and shortness of breath in adults with asthma. For passionflower herb itself there is only an old mouse study of cough. The human trial used a different plant, Passiflora edulis.

4 studiesPurple passion fruit peel extract (Passiflora edulis) 150 mg a day fo…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Watson 2008, Iran): adults with asthma took 150 mg a day of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) peel extract or placebo for 4 weeks. Wheeze, cough and shortness of breath fell significantly in the treated group (P < .05) but not in the placebo group. Forced vital capacity (a lung volume test) rose (P < .05), but forced expiratory volume in 1 second, the usual main asthma lung test, did not improve significantly. No adverse effect was reported. The abstract does not give the number of participants. No human trial of Passiflora incarnata for asthma or cough was found.

Results

Fewer asthma symptoms and a higher forced vital capacity versus baseline with the peel extract; no change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second; placebo showed no improvement.

Effect sizes as reported

Only P-values are given in the abstract (P < .05 for wheeze, cough, shortness of breath and forced vital capacity). No effect sizes or confidence intervals.

Why this rating

A single 4-week trial from one group, participant number not stated in the abstract, symptom scores self-reported, the main lung test did not improve, and no replication. This rating is the compiler's.

Form and dose studied

Purple passion fruit peel extract (Passiflora edulis) 150 mg a day for 4 weeks.

Who was studied

Adults with asthma, Iran.

Limits

Not tested against inhalers or other standard treatment; 4 weeks only; it is not known whether people kept using their usual medicines; different plant from passionflower herb.

Why researchers looked

Passiflora species are used in Brazil as an anti-asthma remedy, and the peel of the fruit is rich in flavonoids that calm inflammation in the lab.

Traditional use

A review reports that Passiflora incarnata has been used in Brazil for asthma (anti-asthmatic and anti-spasmodic purposes). No details of preparations are given in the abstract read.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In a 2026 mouse study, purple passion fruit peel lowered IgE and the allergy messengers IL-4 and IL-5 and raised antioxidant enzymes. In mice, a Passiflora incarnata leaf extract also reduced induced cough by 39.4% and 65.0% at 100 and 200 mg/kg. These are animal findings and do not prove an effect in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Asthma can be serious. Passion fruit peel extract should not replace prescribed asthma treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first. Some Passiflora species can cause occupational respiratory allergy (a 1997 report, Passiflora alata), and latex-allergic people can react to passion fruit; see the safety file.

^{91 27 39 64}

Blood sugar and diabetes control

Low certainty

Several studies of yellow passion fruit peel flour (Passiflora edulis) found lower fasting blood sugar and HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes. These used the fruit peel, not passionflower herb. For Passiflora incarnata itself, only animal work is mentioned in a review.

7 studiesYellow passion fruit peel flour 30 g a day for 2 months (de Queiroz 2…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Three human sources, all on passion fruit peel and all from Brazil. (1) De Queiroz 2012: 43 adults with type 2 diabetes ate 30 g a day of yellow passion fruit peel flour for 2 months; the abstract reports lower fasting glucose (P = 0.000), glycated haemoglobin (P = 0.032) and HOMA-IR (P = 0.005), higher HOMA-beta, but no control group is described. (2) Sousa 2021 randomized trial: 89 adults with type 2 diabetes took passion fruit albedo flour 500 mg three times daily, turmeric plus piperine, or placebo for 120 days. Fasting glucose fell 5.9% with the passion fruit flour against a 9% rise with placebo; HbA1c fell about 0.8% in both active groups against placebo; triglycerides did not fall with passion fruit (+1.8%), while they did with turmeric (-20.8%). (3) Sousa 2020 meta-analysis of 11 studies of passion fruit peel flour or turmeric reported a pooled effect of 0.32 (95% CI 0.23 to 0.45) for passion fruit peel flour on HbA1c. No trial of Passiflora incarnata for blood sugar in people was found.

Results

Lower fasting glucose and HbA1c with peel flour in two small human studies and a pooled analysis; no effect on triglycerides.

Effect sizes as reported

Sousa 2021: fasting glucose -5.9% vs +9% placebo (P < 0.05); HbA1c about -0.8% vs placebo (P < 0.05). Sousa 2020 meta-analysis: pooled effect 0.32 (CI 0.23 to 0.45) for the peel flour; the effect measure is not described in the abstract.

Why this rating

Small studies, one without a control group, from one country; the meta-analysis mixes designs and its abstract does not say how many passion fruit studies were included; the peel is a food fibre product, not passionflower herb. This rating is the compiler's.

Form and dose studied

Yellow passion fruit peel flour 30 g a day for 2 months (de Queiroz 2012), or albedo flour capsules 500 mg three times daily for 120 days (Sousa 2021). The two doses differ about twenty-fold, yet both studies report glucose changes.

Who was studied

Adults with type 2 diabetes, Brazil.

Limits

Participants stayed on their diabetes treatment; the larger trial was designed around cost, with turmeric the better value; no long-term outcomes (complications) measured; different plant part and species from passionflower herb.

Why researchers looked

Passion fruit peel is high in pectin (a soluble fibre) and flavonoids, and fibre is known to slow sugar absorption.

Traditional use

No traditional use of passionflower herb for diabetes is documented in the abstracts read. Antidiabetic activity of Passiflora incarnata is mentioned by a review only as a preclinical finding.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

Rat studies show peel flour improving insulin sensitivity, raising the gut hormones GLP-1 and GIP, lowering weight gain, and preventing fructose-induced insulin resistance and fatty liver. Fibre and plant phenols (such as isoorientin) are suggested as the cause.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Blood sugar lowering can interact with diabetes medicines and cause low blood sugar. People with diabetes should tell their doctor before adding a supplement. Safety data for these studies are not given in the abstracts.

^{99 82 81 57 43 16 64}

Blood pressure

Not enough evidence

No human trial of passionflower or passion fruit peel for blood pressure was found. Rat studies of Passiflora edulis peel show lower blood pressure, but that is animal work only.

3 studiesRat doses (for example 400 and 600 mg/kg for diabetic rats) cannot be…

Studies, doses and limits

Results

Lower blood pressure in rats only.

Why this rating

Animal evidence only; no human trial found.

Form and dose studied

Rat doses (for example 400 and 600 mg/kg for diabetic rats) cannot be converted to human doses.

Limits

No human trials; extracts and doses used in rats are not available as tested products.

Why researchers looked

Peel extracts relax blood vessels in the lab, so researchers have asked whether they could help with hypertension.

Traditional use

A 2017 review lists hypertension among conditions that traditional herbs, including Passiflora incarnata, have been used for. No specific preparation or evidence is given in the abstract.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In hypertensive rats, Passiflora edulis peel extract lowered blood pressure after 28 days, improved blood vessel function and nitric oxide availability, and lowered oxidative stress. In rat artery rings the extract relaxed vessels by opening potassium channels.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Because peel extracts relax blood vessels in the lab, combining a supplement with blood pressure medicines is a question for a doctor or pharmacist. This is theory, not a reported problem.

^{17 16 53}

Menopause and hot flashes

Not enough evidence

Two reviews mention passionflower for menopause symptoms, but neither abstract names a trial, numbers or a dose, and no passionflower trial of hot flashes was found. Evidence is insufficient.

3 studiesNot available.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No randomized trial of Passiflora incarnata for hot flashes was found in PubMed searches. A 2017 mini review (Kim) says Passiflora incarnata affects menopause symptoms including vasomotor symptoms, insomnia and depression, but the abstract names no trial. A 2017 review of herbal medicines (Kargozar) lists Passiflora incarnata among 18 plants called effective for acute menopausal syndrome, with no detail for passionflower. Because the underlying trials are not shown, no result or number is claimed here. Sleep and mood in menopause belong to the mind file.

Results

No verified trial result.

Why this rating

Only list mentions in narrative reviews; the supporting trials were not identified or read.

Form and dose studied

Not available.

Who was studied

Not available.

Limits

The review statements cannot be checked from their abstracts; the source trials, if any, may be about mixed products or sleep rather than hot flashes.

Why researchers looked

Women look for options besides hormone therapy for hot flashes, and passionflower is used for sleep and nerves, which often worsen at menopause.

Traditional use

The reviews describe passionflower as a long-used calming herb. A review also records use for painful periods in several countries (dysmenorrhoea, in Turkey and America).

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

No mechanism for hot flashes is shown in the abstracts read.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Women taking hormone therapy or sedatives should check with a doctor or pharmacist before adding passionflower; see the safety file.

^{53 50 64}

Pain

Not enough evidence

No human trial of passionflower for pain was found. In rats, Passiflora incarnata extract raised pain thresholds in diabetic nerve-pain and alcohol-withdrawal models, but that cannot be applied to people.

3 studiesRat dose 200 mg/kg/day; cannot be converted to a human dose.

Studies, doses and limits

Results

Higher pain thresholds in rats; nothing in people.

Why this rating

Animal evidence only.

Form and dose studied

Rat dose 200 mg/kg/day; cannot be converted to a human dose.

Limits

The alcohol-withdrawal finding is a reversal of a withdrawal change, not ordinary pain relief.

Why researchers looked

Passiflora incarnata is traditionally used for pain, including neuralgia (nerve pain), and has been tested in animal pain models.

Traditional use

Reviews record use for analgesic purposes in Brazil and for neuralgia in Turkey and America.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In diabetic rats with nerve pain, a Passiflora incarnata extract (200 mg/kg/day for 15 days) improved heat and touch pain thresholds and lowered TNF-alpha and IL-6, though mulberry extract worked best. In alcohol-withdrawal rats, the extract reversed a rise in pain threshold on the hot plate test.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Ongoing or severe pain should be assessed by a doctor.

^{85 76 64}

Digestive upset, muscle cramps and hemorrhoids

Not enough evidence

Passionflower has traditional uses as an antispasmodic, for diarrhoea and for haemorrhoids, but no human trial for stomach and gut complaints, muscle cramps or haemorrhoids was found. Evidence is traditional only.

1 studiesNot available.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human trial of Passiflora incarnata or Passiflora edulis for dyspepsia, irritable bowel, constipation, muscle cramps or haemorrhoids was found in PubMed searches. A rat colitis study with yellow passion fruit peel polysaccharides exists but was not read in detail and is not used. A case report describes a rectal blockage from giant granadilla seeds (a different Passiflora species fruit), a reminder that swallowing whole seeds is not harmless.

Results

No human evidence.

Why this rating

Traditional-use statements only; no human trials found.

Form and dose studied

Not available.

Limits

The traditional-use statements come from a review abstract without preparation details.

Why researchers looked

Traditional use as an antispasmodic (a remedy for cramps and spasms) raised questions about the gut and muscles.

Traditional use

A review of Passiflora incarnata records use as an antispasmodic in Brazil, for diarrhoea in America, and for haemorrhoids in America (applied use not described in the abstract). A folk-medicine survey from Calabria, Italy also turned up in searches for haemorrhoids, but its abstract was not read for the details.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

No mechanism for gut or muscle effects was verified in the abstracts read.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Rectal bleeding, black stools, or ongoing stomach pain should be seen by a doctor and not treated with herbs.

⁶⁴

ADHD in children

Not enough evidence

Two reviews of herbs for ADHD mention passionflower, one rating the evidence as low and the other saying it looked as effective as methylphenidate in the trial reviewed. Neither could recommend its use, and the trial details are not in the abstracts.

2 studiesNot available.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Anheyer 2017: a systematic review of 9 randomized trials (464 children) found low evidence for Melissa officinalis, Valeriana officinalis and Passiflora incarnata and concluded no concrete recommendation could be made. Golsorkhi 2023: an updated review of 15 studies reported that Passiflora incarnata had efficacy similar to methylphenidate, but also concluded that no definite recommendation was possible because of too few well-reported trials. The trial behind this statement was not identified from the abstracts. A related Austrian report of an herbal triplet for nervous agitation in children (Trompetter 2013) is a mixed product on behaviour and is left to the mind file.

Results

Low-quality, unconfirmed signal; no usable numbers.

Why this rating

The reviewers themselves say there are too few good trials; the passionflower trial details were not read.

Form and dose studied

Not available.

Who was studied

Children and adolescents with ADHD.

Limits

The supporting trial may be small, and may be a mixed-herb product; no long-term follow-up known.

Why researchers looked

Passionflower is calming, and families look for alternatives to ADHD medicines.

Traditional use

No traditional use for ADHD is documented; ADHD is a modern diagnosis.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

The abstracts give no mechanism.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Parents should not stop or swap ADHD medicines for herbs without the child's doctor.

^{4 42}

Physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal

Low certainty

In one small 14-day trial, adding passionflower drops to the drug clonidine did not improve the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal compared with clonidine alone. Its mental-symptom effect is covered in the mind file.

2 studiesPassiflora incarnata extract 60 drops a day plus clonidine up to 0.8 …

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Akhondzadeh 2001: 65 outpatients with opioid dependence took clonidine plus passionflower extract drops (60 drops a day) or clonidine plus placebo drops for 14 days. Both groups were equally effective for the physical symptoms of withdrawal (Short Opiate Withdrawal Scale); the passionflower group did better for mental symptoms. The abstract gives no numbers.

Results

No added benefit for physical withdrawal symptoms.

Why this rating

One small randomized trial, short, extract not defined, no numbers in the abstract, and not replicated. This rating is the compiler's.

Form and dose studied

Passiflora incarnata extract 60 drops a day plus clonidine up to 0.8 mg a day for 14 days; drop strength not stated.

Who was studied

Outpatients with opioid dependence, Iran.

Limits

Opioid withdrawal needs medical supervision; this trial is not a basis for self-treatment.

Why researchers looked

Clonidine helps physical withdrawal but not the mental symptoms; passionflower was tested for the mental side.

Traditional use

A review records use of Passiflora incarnata for opiate dependence in India.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

The trial authors proposed an anxiety-lowering effect as the reason for adding it. No mechanism for physical symptoms is shown.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Withdrawal can be dangerous. Do not self-treat; see a doctor.

^{2 64}

Connections to the rest of health

How Passionflower connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.

Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes

Kind of connection Connected to Search

A. Wellness goals

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Anxiety Support	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Generalized anxiety (compared with oxazepam and mexazolam): Passionflower is best known as a calming herb for anxiety. The best human evidence is one small 4-week trial of 36 people where a liquid extract worked about as well as the drug oxazepam. A Cochrane review found only two trials in total and said that is too few to draw any conclusion. Newer reviews are more upbeat but rest on the same few studies. Anxiety before surgery and dental work: Several small trials gave passionflower to people just before wisdom-tooth removal, gum treatment or surgery. Some found less anxiety than placebo and some found it worked about as well as the sedative midazolam, with fewer side effects. Others found no difference on the anxiety questionnaires. It is a short, single-dose use.	^{1 65 47 64 74 37 11 63 6 45 66 8 51 98 89 58 24 22 73 94 84 49 13 59 62 52 56 87 2 32 95 18 19}
Calm Relaxation	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Generalized anxiety (compared with oxazepam and mexazolam): Passionflower is best known as a calming herb for anxiety. The best human evidence is one small 4-week trial of 36 people where a liquid extract worked about as well as the drug oxazepam. A Cochrane review found only two trials in total and said that is too few to draw any conclusion. Newer reviews are more upbeat but rest on the same few studies. Anxiety before surgery and dental work: Several small trials gave passionflower to people just before wisdom-tooth removal, gum treatment or surgery. Some found less anxiety than placebo and some found it worked about as well as the sedative midazolam, with fewer side effects. Others found no difference on the anxiety questionnaires. It is a short, single-dose use.	^{1 65 47 64 74 37 11 63 6 45 66 8 51 98 89 58 24 22 73 94 84 49 69 55 46 54 13 59 62 52 56 87 2 32 95 18 19 3 42 4 70 72 41 53 21}
Stress Reduction	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Generalized anxiety (compared with oxazepam and mexazolam): Passionflower is best known as a calming herb for anxiety. The best human evidence is one small 4-week trial of 36 people where a liquid extract worked about as well as the drug oxazepam. A Cochrane review found only two trials in total and said that is too few to draw any conclusion. Newer reviews are more upbeat but rest on the same few studies. Anxiety before surgery and dental work: Several small trials gave passionflower to people just before wisdom-tooth removal, gum treatment or surgery. Some found less anxiety than placebo and some found it worked about as well as the sedative midazolam, with fewer side effects. Others found no difference on the anxiety questionnaires. It is a short, single-dose use.	^{1 65 47 64 74 37 11 63 6 45 66 8 51 98 89 58 24 22 73 94 84 49 13 59 62 52 56 87 41 46}
Better Sleep	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Sleep and insomnia (single-herb tea and extract): Passionflower is a common bedtime herb. A week of tea gave healthy adults slightly better self-rated sleep quality than placebo tea. Two small extract trials in people with insomnia or stress found gains in total sleep time. Effects are small and the trials are short. Combination products with passionflower (sleep, stress, anxiety): Many studies use blends such as valerian plus passionflower plus hops, or passionflower with lemon balm and others. Some blends beat placebo or matched a sleeping pill, but because several herbs are in each product, none of these results can be credited to passionflower alone.	^{69 55 46 54 13 59 62 52 56 87 94}
Sleep Quality	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Sleep and insomnia (single-herb tea and extract): Passionflower is a common bedtime herb. A week of tea gave healthy adults slightly better self-rated sleep quality than placebo tea. Two small extract trials in people with insomnia or stress found gains in total sleep time. Effects are small and the trials are short. Helping people come off benzodiazepines: In an Italian clinic, outpatients tapering off long-term benzodiazepines (sleeping and anxiety pills) who also took a passionflower dry extract cut or stopped their dose more often than similar patients who did not. This was a look back at patient records, not a trial, so it cannot prove the herb caused the difference.	^{69 55 46 54 95 18 19}
Better Focus	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	ADHD in children: One small 8-week Iranian trial reported that passionflower worked about as well as methylphenidate (Ritalin) for children's ADHD symptoms, with fewer side effects. Reviews call the evidence low and say no recommendation can be made. ADHD in children: Two reviews of herbs for ADHD mention passionflower, one rating the evidence as low and the other saying it looked as effective as methylphenidate in the trial reviewed. Neither could recommend its use, and the trial details are not in the abstracts.	^{3 42 4 70 72}
Mental Clarity	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	ADHD in children: One small 8-week Iranian trial reported that passionflower worked about as well as methylphenidate (Ritalin) for children's ADHD symptoms, with fewer side effects. Reviews call the evidence low and say no recommendation can be made. ADHD in children: Two reviews of herbs for ADHD mention passionflower, one rating the evidence as low and the other saying it looked as effective as methylphenidate in the trial reviewed. Neither could recommend its use, and the trial details are not in the abstracts.	^{3 42 4 70 72}
Resilience Support	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Everyday stress and nervous restlessness: Beyond anxiety disorders, two studies looked at everyday stress. A 12-week German study without a control group saw big gains in resilience and quality of life, and a placebo-controlled trial in India found lower perceived stress. Both are limited.	^{41 46 62}
Mood Balance	Potential benefit	Not enough evidence	Mood and depression: No trial of passionflower on its own for depression was found. A few reviews say it may help mood and the Italian benzodiazepine studies included people with depression, but nothing shows passionflower treats low mood.	^{47 95 53}
Menopause Support	Potential benefit	Not enough evidence	Mood and sleep around the menopause: Only one uncontrolled study could be found, using a four-ingredient supplement that includes passionflower. Women's menopause symptom scores fell over six months, but there was no comparison group and no way to say what the passionflower did.	^{21 53}
Womens Wellness	Potential benefit	Not enough evidence	Mood and sleep around the menopause: Only one uncontrolled study could be found, using a four-ingredient supplement that includes passionflower. Women's menopause symptom scores fell over six months, but there was no comparison group and no way to say what the passionflower did.	^{21 53}
Joint Support	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Knee osteoarthritis (passion fruit peel, Passiflora edulis): One small trial of a purple passion fruit peel extract found less knee pain, stiffness and trouble moving after two months than placebo. This is a different plant from passionflower herb (Passiflora incarnata) and the evidence is a single very small study from Iran.	³⁶
Inflammation Balance	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Knee osteoarthritis (passion fruit peel, Passiflora edulis): One small trial of a purple passion fruit peel extract found less knee pain, stiffness and trouble moving after two months than placebo. This is a different plant from passionflower herb (Passiflora incarnata) and the evidence is a single very small study from Iran. Asthma symptoms and cough: A 4-week trial of purple passion fruit peel extract found less wheeze, cough and shortness of breath in adults with asthma. For passionflower herb itself there is only an old mouse study of cough. The human trial used a different plant, Passiflora edulis.	^{36 91 27 39 64}
Immune Support	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Asthma symptoms and cough: A 4-week trial of purple passion fruit peel extract found less wheeze, cough and shortness of breath in adults with asthma. For passionflower herb itself there is only an old mouse study of cough. The human trial used a different plant, Passiflora edulis.	^{91 27 39 64}
Blood Sugar Balance	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Blood sugar and diabetes control: Several studies of yellow passion fruit peel flour (Passiflora edulis) found lower fasting blood sugar and HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes. These used the fruit peel, not passionflower herb. For Passiflora incarnata itself, only animal work is mentioned in a review.	^{99 82 81 57 43 16 64}
Metabolic Health	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Blood sugar and diabetes control: Several studies of yellow passion fruit peel flour (Passiflora edulis) found lower fasting blood sugar and HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes. These used the fruit peel, not passionflower herb. For Passiflora incarnata itself, only animal work is mentioned in a review.	^{99 82 81 57 43 16 64}
Blood Pressure Support	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Blood pressure: No human trial of passionflower or passion fruit peel for blood pressure was found. Rat studies of Passiflora edulis peel show lower blood pressure, but that is animal work only.	^{17 16 53}
Heart Health	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Blood pressure: No human trial of passionflower or passion fruit peel for blood pressure was found. Rat studies of Passiflora edulis peel show lower blood pressure, but that is animal work only.	^{17 16 53}
Menopause Support	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Menopause and hot flashes: Two reviews mention passionflower for menopause symptoms, but neither abstract names a trial, numbers or a dose, and no passionflower trial of hot flashes was found. Evidence is insufficient.	^{53 50 64}
Womens Wellness	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Menopause and hot flashes: Two reviews mention passionflower for menopause symptoms, but neither abstract names a trial, numbers or a dose, and no passionflower trial of hot flashes was found. Evidence is insufficient.	^{53 50 64}
Joint Support	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Pain: No human trial of passionflower for pain was found. In rats, Passiflora incarnata extract raised pain thresholds in diabetic nerve-pain and alcohol-withdrawal models, but that cannot be applied to people.	^{85 76 64}
Inflammation Balance	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Pain: No human trial of passionflower for pain was found. In rats, Passiflora incarnata extract raised pain thresholds in diabetic nerve-pain and alcohol-withdrawal models, but that cannot be applied to people.	^{85 76 64}
Digestive Support	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Digestive upset, muscle cramps and hemorrhoids: Passionflower has traditional uses as an antispasmodic, for diarrhoea and for haemorrhoids, but no human trial for stomach and gut complaints, muscle cramps or haemorrhoids was found. Evidence is traditional only.	⁶⁴
Gut Health	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Digestive upset, muscle cramps and hemorrhoids: Passionflower has traditional uses as an antispasmodic, for diarrhoea and for haemorrhoids, but no human trial for stomach and gut complaints, muscle cramps or haemorrhoids was found. Evidence is traditional only.	⁶⁴
Resilience Support	Demonstrated clinical effect	Low certainty	Physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal: In one small 14-day trial, adding passionflower drops to the drug clonidine did not improve the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal compared with clonidine alone. Its mental-symptom effect is covered in the mind file.	^{2 64}

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Nervous system	Adverse effect or risk	Low certainty	Drowsiness, dizziness and confusion are listed by NCCIH. The EU monograph warns about driving. Drowsiness, dizziness and confusion; may affect driving. Preparation or compound: Extracts and teas of aerial parts; products vary	^{67 34 22}
Digestive system	Adverse effect or risk	Very low certainty	Nausea and vomiting in the hospital case and in unproven spontaneous reports. Preparation or compound: Passiflora incarnata products	^{38 35}
Reproductive system	Contraindication	Not enough evidence	Avoid in pregnancy (NCCIH: may induce uterine contractions; EU: safety not established). No human data seen. Avoid in pregnancy; no human data seen. Preparation or compound: Oral passionflower	^{67 34}
Immune system	Contraindication	Very low certainty	Hypersensitivity is an EU contraindication; allergy to a related species (P. alata) documented in a worker. Preparation or compound: Passiflora extracts	^{34 40}
Nervous System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Generalized anxiety (compared with oxazepam and mexazolam) Studied for: Anxiety before surgery and dental work	^{1 65 47 64 74 37 11 63 6 45 66 8 51 98 89 58 24 22 73 94 84 49 69 55 46 54 13 59 62 52 56 87 2 32 95 18 19 3 42 4 70 72 41 53 85 76}
Stress Mood	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Generalized anxiety (compared with oxazepam and mexazolam) Studied for: Anxiety before surgery and dental work	^{1 65 47 64 74 37 11 63 6 45 66 8 51 98 89 58 24 22 73 94 84 49 13 59 62 52 56 87 2 32 95 18 19 41 46 53 21}
Sleep Recovery	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Sleep and insomnia (single-herb tea and extract) Studied for: Combination products with passionflower (sleep, stress, anxiety)	^{69 55 46 54 13 59 62 52 56 87 94}
Reproductive System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Mood and sleep around the menopause Studied for: Menopause and hot flashes	^{21 53 50 64}
Musculoskeletal System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Knee osteoarthritis (passion fruit peel, Passiflora edulis) Studied for: Digestive upset, muscle cramps and hemorrhoids	^{36 64}
Respiratory System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Asthma symptoms and cough	^{91 27 39 64}
Endocrine System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Blood sugar and diabetes control Studied for: Menopause and hot flashes	^{99 82 81 57 43 16 64 53 50}
Metabolism Weight	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Blood sugar and diabetes control	^{99 82 81 57 43 16 64}
Cardiovascular System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Blood pressure	^{17 16 53}
Digestive System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Digestive upset, muscle cramps and hemorrhoids	⁶⁴

C. Body parts and organs

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Brain	Drug or supplement interaction	Very low certainty	Additive sedation theory plus one case report with lorazepam, valerian and passionflower. Added sedation in theory; one case with lorazepam and valerian. Preparation or compound: Passiflora incarnata with benzodiazepines, valerian, alcohol	^{20 35}
Heart	Adverse effect or risk	Very low certainty	One case of prolonged QT and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia; cause unproven. A safety relationship, not a benefit. One case of prolonged QT and ventricular tachycardia; cause unproven. Preparation or compound: Passiflora incarnata herbal remedy at usual doses	^{38 35}
Blood vessels	Adverse effect or risk	Very low certainty	One 1993 hypersensitivity vasculitis case; details unread. One 1993 vasculitis case with a product containing Passiflora extract. Preparation or compound: Herbal preparation containing Passiflora extract	^{79 35}
Liver	Adverse effect or risk	Not enough evidence	No clear liver harm from passionflower alone; the one liver failure involved kava. A safety relationship, not a benefit. No clear liver harm from passionflower alone; the one fatal case involved kava. Preparation or compound: Mixed kava-plus-passionflower product in the one fatal case	^{68 44}

D. Symptoms

Connected to	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Generalised anxiety	Low certainty	One small pilot against oxazepam; reviews disagree. Preparation or compound: Liquid or dry extract	^{1 65 74}
Anxiety before surgery or dental work	Low certainty	Small single-dose trials, mixed results. Preparation or compound: Tablets, various brands	^{66 8 84}
Sleep problems	Low certainty	Small gains in short trials. Preparation or compound: Tea or extract	^{69 55 46}
Everyday stress	Low certainty	One uncontrolled study and one placebo-controlled trial. Preparation or compound: Dry extract	^{41 46}
Opioid withdrawal	Very low certainty	One small trial with clonidine; mental symptoms only. Preparation or compound: Liquid extract drops	²
Benzodiazepine tapering	Very low certainty	Retrospective comparison, not a trial. Preparation or compound: Dry extract	^{95 18 19}
ADHD in children	Very low certainty	One small trial known second-hand; reviews say no recommendation. Preparation or compound: Tablets	^{3 42 4}
Mood and depression	Not enough evidence	No trial of passionflower alone.	^{47 53}
Menopause symptoms	Not enough evidence	One uncontrolled study of a four-ingredient product.	^{21 53}

I. Biomarkers

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{13 1}
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{8 89 69}
Anxiety rating (VAS or numeric scale)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{66 51 58}
Saliva cortisol	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{58 62}
Heart rate and blood pressure around surgery	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{24 22 98 58}
Thinking and reaction tests (digit-symbol, dot test)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{66 8 73}
Sleep quality rating (sleep diary)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{69 56}
Total sleep time on overnight sleep recording	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁵⁵
Insomnia Severity Index, Perceived Stress Scale and General Health Questionnaire	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{46 59}
Short Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²
Benzodiazepine dose reduction	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{95 19 18}
ADHD Rating Scales (parent and teacher)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{3 42}
Resilience scale (RS-13) and quality of life (EQ-VAS)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁴¹
Kupperman Index (menopause symptoms)	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²¹
DASS-21 (depression, anxiety and stress scale)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁹⁴
WOMAC osteoarthritis score	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	³⁶
Forced vital capacity (FVC)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁹¹
Fasting blood glucose	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{99 82}
Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{99 82 81}
Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{99 82}
Triglycerides	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁸²

J. Genes, receptors and enzymes

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
GABA-A receptor (GABRA/GABRB/GABRG subunit genes; subunit not resolved)	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Extract reduces binding at the GABA site, not the benzodiazepine site, in rat brain preparations; flumazenil blocks anxiolysis in mice	^{6 45}
GABA-B receptor (GABBR1, GABBR2)	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Extract acted as an antagonist in a GTP-gamma-S assay	⁶
ADORA1 and ADORA2A (adenosine A1 and A2A receptors)	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Standardized extract displaced binding at both receptors	⁷
HTR2A (serotonin 5-HT2A receptor)	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Standardized extract displaced binding; melatonin MT1 and orexin OX1 not affected	⁷
SLC6A3, SLC6A2, SLC6A4 (dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin transporters)	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Extract inhibited uptake of the three monoamines into rat synaptosomes	⁷
HTR1A (serotonin 5-HT1A receptor)	Preliminary mechanism	Animal	Blocking this receptor with WAY-100635 did NOT cancel the extract's anxiolytic effect in mice, so this receptor is not implied	⁴⁵
MAOA (monoamine oxidase A)	Preliminary mechanism	Pharmacological theory	Theoretical target of harmala alkaloids; not tested directly on passionflower; extract changed MAO mRNA in mice	^{78 86}
GAD (glutamate decarboxylase, GAD1/GAD2) and COMT	Preliminary mechanism	Animal	Extract changed their mRNA in mice (enzyme activity not measured)	⁸⁶
PER1, PER2, CRY1, BMAL1, CLOCK (circadian clock genes)	Preliminary mechanism	Animal	Extract and three purified flavonoids raised clock-gene mRNA rhythms in mouse cells and tissues	⁸⁶
SLCO2B1 (OATP2B1) and SLCO1A2 (OATP1A2)	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Orientin, vitexin, apigenin and commercial preparations block these uptake transporters in cell lines	⁷⁵
CYP3A4	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Infusion raised CYP3A4 mRNA in human liver cells (HepG2)	⁶⁰
CYP19A1 (aromatase)	Preliminary mechanism	Pharmacological theory	Proposed target of an unidentified benzoflavone; no direct test found (EMA)	^{31 29 100}

K. Biological pathways

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
GABA uptake (GABA transporters, SLC6A1 and relatives)	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Extract blocks GABA uptake into rat cortical nerve endings; transporter type not identified	⁶
Glutamate and serotonin turnover in rat hippocampus and cortex	Preliminary mechanism	Animal	Changed after 7 weeks of extract in drinking water	⁴⁸
Glutathione and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Infusion lowered total glutathione and raised GGT in HepG2 cells	⁶⁰

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Isovitexin	Biological association	In vitro	One of the main flavonoids of P. incarnata. In cells, its glucoside form (see below) and isoschaftoside raised Per2 clock-gene mRNA (p28824345). No sedative or anxiolytic action of pure isovitexin on its own was found in the sources read. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{92 45 9 86 100}
Vitexin	Biological association	In vitro	Blocks the transporters OATP2B1 and OATP1A2 and is itself carried by OATP2B1, in cell lines (p33511622). In rats, pure vitexin lost 94.1% to first-pass in the gut and has low oral bioavailability (p24555505). Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{45 9 75 93 90}
Isoorientin (homoorientin)	Biological association	In vitro	Named as a major flavonoid in the extract used in the flumazenil-reversible mouse anxiolytic study (p19006051); purified homoorientin also raised Per2 mRNA in cells (p28824345). Its own effect on anxiety was not tested. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{45 86 80 100}
Orientin	Biological association	In vitro	Blocks OATP2B1 and OATP1A2 and is a substrate of both, in cells (p33511622). Anxiolytic or sedative action not shown for the pure compound in the sources read. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{45 9 75 80}
Isovitexin-2''-O-glucoside	Biological association	Animal	Purified from the extract, raised Per2 mRNA in cells (p28824345). A rat study found a half-life of about 3.5 h after injection and some compound in brain tissue (p37881073). CID matched by name search; confirm the exact isomer if used in a product label. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{86 97 100}
Schaftoside	Biological association	In vitro	No activity data for the pure compound in the sources read. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{92 100}
Isoschaftoside	Biological association	In vitro	Purified from the extract, raised Per2 mRNA in cells (p28824345). Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{92 86 100}
Vicenin-2	Biological association	In vitro	No activity data in the sources read. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	¹⁰⁰
Swertisin	Biological association	In vitro	No activity data in the sources read. Whether swertisin-type plants work differently is unknown. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{92 100}
Chrysin	Biological association	Animal	Pure chrysin by injection in rats reduced anxiety about as much as midazolam on a maze test, but the effect was smaller and stress hormones did not change (p17966676). Whether passionflower tea or extract contains meaningful chrysin was not verified; modern chemical profiles of the plant mostly list C-glycosides (p19006051, p20522969). Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{15 78 31}
Maltol	Biological association	Animal	Isolated from a P. incarnata dry extract in 1974 and tested in animals (p4421168; abstract not available). Also tested in mice in 1997, results for maltol alone not given in the abstract (p9234160). Acute toxicity in mice: LD50 820 mg/kg by injection (EMA). Not shown to cause the herb's effects. Preparation or compound: Dry extract (a 1974 isolation)	^{5 80 100}
Harman (harmane)	Biological association	Pharmacological theory	Harmala alkaloids as a group are known to inhibit monoamine oxidase-A, but no test showed this for passionflower itself at the amounts present (see mechanisms). In mice, harman was one of the compounds tested alongside the extract (p9234160; results not in abstract). Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{12 9 80 100}
Harmine	Biological association	Pharmacological theory	Same caveat as harman. Measured with harman in a 1971 extract (p5143366). Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{12 9 100}
Harmaline	Biological association	Pharmacological theory	Same caveat as harman. Included in the UPLC method that can measure it in plants and supplements (p23074901). Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{9 100}
Harmol	Biological association	Pharmacological theory	Same caveat as harman. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{80 9 100}
Harmalol	Biological association	Pharmacological theory	Same caveat as harman. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{80 9 100}
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)	Biological association	In vitro	The extract produced GABA-A currents in brain slices, and the effect disappeared when amino acids were removed, so the free GABA in the liquid explained it (p20382514). Whether swallowed GABA reaches the brain is not shown here. Preparation or compound: Extract (whole plant water extract)	³³
Gynocardin	Biological association	In vitro	A compound that can release cyanide when broken down. No toxicity data for passionflower itself were found in the sources read; the EMA found low acute toxicity of the extracts (oral LD50 above 15 g/kg in mice and rats). Safety detail belongs in the safety file. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	¹⁰⁰
Unidentified 'benzoflavone' (BZF)	Biological association	Animal	One research group reports an unnamed tri-substituted benzoflavone as the main active compound and proposes it blocks the enzyme aromatase. The EMA says its chemical structure appears not to be known, the amount in the plant is unreported, and no direct aromatase test was found. Treat as unconfirmed. No PubChem entry can be given. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{31 29 30 100}

Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 24, 2026).

Evidence at a glance: what changed in 21 lab markers

Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.

Hormonal1 Metabolic21 Other7424

The evidence

The research centre for Passionflower. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.

Evidence by outcome

Generalized anxiety (compared with oxazepam and mexazolam) 10 studies · 36 people in trials Low certainty Anxiety before surgery and dental work 12 studies · 789 people in trials Low certainty Sleep and insomnia (single-herb tea and extract) 4 studies · 216 people in trials Low certainty Combination products with passionflower (sleep, stress, anxiety) 7 studies · 555 people in trials Not enough evidence Opioid withdrawal symptoms 3 studies · 65 people in trials Very low certainty Helping people come off benzodiazepines 3 studies Very low certainty ADHD in children 5 studies · 34 people in trials Very low certainty Everyday stress and nervous restlessness 3 studies · 137 people in trials Low certainty Mood and depression 3 studies Not enough evidence Mood and sleep around the menopause 2 studies Not enough evidence Knee osteoarthritis (passion fruit peel, Passiflora edulis) 1 study · 33 people in trials Very low certainty Asthma symptoms and cough 4 studies Very low certainty Blood sugar and diabetes control 7 studies · 89 people in trials Low certainty Blood pressure 3 studies Not enough evidence Menopause and hot flashes 3 studies Not enough evidence Pain 3 studies Not enough evidence Digestive upset, muscle cramps and hemorrhoids 1 study Not enough evidence ADHD in children 2 studies Not enough evidence Physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal 2 studies · 65 people in trials Low certainty

Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).

How we rate evidence

High certainty

Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.

Moderate certainty

Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.

Low certainty

Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.

Very low certainty

Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.

Mixed findings

Trials or reviews disagree with each other.

Not enough evidence

Not enough human research to say either way.

Evidence against

Good research found no benefit, or found harm.

We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed, NIH NCCIH, the EU herbal monograph and assessment report and other regulators' pages, opened each source and recorded the study design, people, product and result as reported. Abstracts only for most studies; the NCCIH page and the EU monograph and assessment texts were read. Some pages (the NIH LiverTox entry, a LactMed entry, the German Commission E and WHO monographs) could not be read and are marked not verified or left out, and the ADHD trial is known only from a review. No study is cited that we could not verify.

Study library: every study we checked 103

Design Research type Plant part Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
Akhondzadeh 2001 Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. J Clin Pharm Ther · PMID 11679026 · DOI	Controlled trial	36 36 outpatients with generalised anxiety disorder (DSM-IV)	Passiflora incarnata liquid extract (drops) unspecified 45 drops per day (plus placebo tablet) 4 weeks · vs Oxazepam 30 mg per day (plus placebo drops)	Both treatments worked and the groups did not differ at the end of 4 weeks. Oxazepam acted faster. More problems with job performance on oxazepam. No significant difference between groups at 4 weeks (numbers not in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety scores Limitations: Pilot study, only 18 per group, no placebo-only arm (the comparison drug was oxazepam), 4 weeks. The product and its strength are not described in the abstract. The authors themselves ask for a large trial. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Akhondzadeh 2001 Passionflower in the treatment of opiates withdrawal: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. J Clin Pharm Ther · PMID 11679027 · DOI	Controlled trial	65 65 outpatients with opioid dependence (DSM-IV) in detoxification	Passiflora incarnata liquid extract (drops) plus clonidine unspecified 60 drops per day plus clonidine up to 0.8 mg per day 14 days · vs Clonidine plus placebo drops	Both groups improved equally on physical withdrawal symptoms. The passiflora plus clonidine group did significantly better on mental symptoms. Mental symptoms better with passiflora added; physical symptoms equal (numbers not in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Short Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) Limitations: Two weeks, outpatients, no numbers in the abstract, both groups also took clonidine, so passiflora was tested as an add-on, not on its own. Authors ask for larger study. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Akhondzadeh 2005 Passiflora incarnata in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents Therapy 2005;2:609-614 (reference as printed in Golsorkhi 2023) · Source	Controlled trial	34 34 children and adolescents with ADHD in Iran (17 per group, 31 finished)	Passiflora incarnata tablets unspecified 0.04 mg/kg/day in two doses as listed in the review's table (not checked against the original) 8 weeks · vs Methylphenidate 1 mg/kg/day in two doses	As described by Golsorkhi 2023 (PMC full text): both groups improved clearly, with no significant difference between passionflower and methylphenidate on parent and teacher ratings. Loss of appetite and anxiety or nervousness were more common with methylphenidate. No significant difference between passiflora and methylphenidate (numbers not seen) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Parent and Teacher ADHD Rating Scale at days 0, 14, 28, 42 and 56 Limitations: NOT VERIFIED from the original paper, which is not on PubMed; details are taken from a 2023 review's table and text. No placebo arm, small, 8 weeks. The review notes blinding and randomisation were not well reported in some trials. Read: summary-only
Anheyer 2017 Herbal medicines in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic review. Complement Ther Med · PMID 28137522 · DOI	Systematic review	464 9 randomised trials (464 children and adolescents) with ADHD	Herbal pharmaceuticals including Passiflora incarnata unspecified · vs Placebo or active control	The review found low evidence for Melissa officinalis, Valeriana officinalis and Passiflora incarnata, and limited evidence for pine bark extract and ginkgo. It concluded that no concrete recommendations can be made. None in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: ADHD symptoms; tolerability Limitations: Abstract only. Search ended July 2016. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Aoyagi 1974 Studies on passiflora incarnata dry extract. I. Isolation of maltol and pharmacological action of maltol and ethyl maltol. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) · PMID 4421168 · DOI	Isolation and animal pharmacology animal	Not available	Dry extract; maltol and ethyl maltol unspecified not available not available · vs not available	Title reports maltol was isolated from a P. incarnata dry extract; no abstract is available on PubMed, so findings were not read. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Not available Limitations: Abstract not available; only the title was seen. The EMA report says maltol may be an artefact of processing. Funding and conflicts: Not available. Read: citation-only
Appel 2011 Modulation of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system by Passiflora incarnata L. Phytother Res · PMID 21089181 · DOI	Laboratory research in-vitro	Rat brain cell preparations	Dry extract of Passiflora incarnata (Pascoflair 425 mg) herb Lab experiment	The extract reduced GABA uptake into nerve endings and bound to GABA-A and GABA-B receptors (acting as a GABA-B blocker). The benzodiazepine and alcohol sites of the GABA-A receptor were not affected. Receptor and uptake effects (lab) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: GABA uptake and GABA-A/GABA-B receptor binding Limitations: Laboratory test on rat tissue; says nothing direct about people; the maker's lab. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Appel 2027 A Passiflora incarnata extract exerts multi-target effects on selected sleep-related receptors. J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 42462921 · DOI	In vitro receptor binding and uptake in-vitro	Receptor binding and rat cortical synaptosomes	Standardized P. incarnata extract unspecified acute	Concentration-dependent displacement at adenosine A1, A2A and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors; no effect at melatonin MT1 or orexin OX1. Uptake of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin into synaptosomes was inhibited. The active components were not identified. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Binding at adenosine A1/A2A, 5-HT2A, melatonin MT1, orexin OX1; uptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin Limitations: Exploratory, test-tube only; journal issue dated January 2027 (online July 2026); extract concentrations not read. Funding and conflicts: Declared none; three of the five authors list Cesra Arzneimittel, a medicines company, as their employer. Read: abstract
Aslanargun 2012 Passiflora incarnata Linneaus as an anxiolytic before spinal anesthesia. J Anesth · PMID 22048283 · DOI	Controlled trial	60 60 adults aged 25 to 55 about to have spinal anaesthesia	Passiflora incarnata extract (oral) unspecified Single dose, 30 minutes before spinal anaesthesia · vs Placebo	Anxiety score rose less before spinal anaesthesia with passiflora than with placebo. No difference in psychomotor function, sedation, blood pressure or side effects. Smaller rise in STAI-S score vs placebo (p-value not given in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), sedation, psychomotor tests, blood pressure Limitations: Single dose, no numbers in abstract; the benefit is a smaller increase in anxiety rather than a fall from baseline. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Avula 2012 Simultaneous determination of alkaloids and flavonoids from aerial parts of Passiflora species and dietary supplements using UPLC-UV-MS and HPTLC. Nat Prod Commun · PMID 23074901	Analytical method paper in-vitro	Aerial parts of P. incarnata, P. violacea, P. edulis, P. suberosa, P. morifolia, P. quadrangularis; Peganum harmala; supplements	Plant samples and supplements aerial parts	A validated 8-minute method to measure these nine compounds and to confirm isoschaftoside and schaftoside, usable on plants and supplements. The abstract does not give measured amounts. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Five indole alkaloids (harmalol, harmol, harmane, harmaline, harmine) and four flavonoids (orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin) Limitations: Amounts not in the abstract; full text not read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Bacchi 2013 Developmental exposure to Passiflora incarnata induces behavioural alterations in the male progeny. Reprod Fertil Dev · PMID 22958428 · DOI	Animal experiment (pregnancy and nursing) animal	Pregnant Wistar rats and their pups	P. incarnata herb by gavage unspecified 30 or 300 mg/kg from gestation day 0 to postnatal day 21 · vs control	No change in litter size or pup growth. At 300 mg/kg only 3 of 11 adult male offspring were sexually competent; testosterone, organ weights and sperm count did not change. The authors suggest aromatase inhibition may be involved (a hypothesis). Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Litter outcomes, pup development, behaviour, sexual behaviour, testosterone, sperm count Limitations: Rats; one dose clearly affected; safety in pregnancy is dealt with in the safety file. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Barros 2026 Clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes of Passiflora alata Curtis use in participants with mild to moderate anxiety: a non-randomized experimental study. Daru · PMID 41636991 · DOI	Observational	30 About 30 adults with mild to moderate anxiety in Brazil (29 responders = 96.7%, so total inferred as 30)	Passiflora alata extract (a different species from P. incarnata) unspecified	29 of the participants (96.7%) improved on GAD-7. The authors suggest it could be offered in the Brazilian public health system. 96.7% improved (29 participants) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: GAD-7 anxiety scale; treatment satisfaction; costs Limitations: Different species (P. alata, not P. incarnata). Single group, open label, no placebo. Included here only to show what is known about other Passiflora species. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests Registration: ReBEC RBR-6fhv7x5 Read: abstract
Bennati E. 1971 [Quantitative determination of harmane and harmine in the extract of Passiflora incarnata]. Boll Chim Farm · PMID 5143366	Chemical analysis (Italian) in-vitro	P. incarnata extract	Extract unspecified	Only the title is available (no abstract on PubMed); it shows harmane and harmine were looked for and measured in an extract in 1971, amounts not read. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Harmane and harmine content Limitations: Citation only. Funding and conflicts: Not available. Read: citation-only
Bourin 1997 A combination of plant extracts in the treatment of outpatients with adjustment disorder with anxious mood: controlled study versus placebo. Fundam Clin Pharmacol · PMID 9107558 · DOI	Controlled trial	182 182 outpatients with adjustment disorder with anxious mood (91 per group)	Euphytose: a combination of six plant extracts (hawthorn, ballota, passionflower, valerian, cola, paullinia) unspecified 2 tablets three times a day 28 days · vs Placebo	42.9% had HAM-A below 10 at day 28 with Euphytose versus 25.3% with placebo (P=0.012). Mean HAM-A at day 28 was 12.63 vs 15.2. Difference significant from day 7 to day 28 (P=0.042). HAM-A below 10: 42.9% vs 25.3% (P=0.012); day 28 means 12.63 vs 15.2 Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A) score Limitations: Six-ingredient combination (two of them mild stimulants), so the effect cannot be assigned to passionflower; 1997 trial. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Brouns 2025 Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata): Quality of Food Supplements Versus Registered Herbal Medicinal Products. Planta Med · PMID 40245939 · DOI	Laboratory research in-vitro	11 11 European products (6 meeting specification, 5 not)	Passionflower products aerial parts	Thin-layer fingerprinting showed five food supplements were not identical to passionflower; one supplement had only hyperoside and lacked other passionflower compounds; five of six supplements failed the identity or flavone-content specification, which the authors say suggests food fraud. All registered herbal medicines conformed. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Product identity and content Limitations: Small sample; which brands not named in the abstract; European market only. Read: abstract
Brown 2007 Evaluation of the anxiolytic effects of chrysin, a Passiflora incarnata extract, in the laboratory rat. AANA J · PMID 17966676	Animal experiment animal	44 Male Sprague-Dawley rats	Chrysin (pure compound) injected into the belly cavity 2 mg/kg intraperitoneal acute · vs vehicle; midazolam 1.5 mg/kg; flumazenil plus chrysin	No difference between groups in stress hormones. Midazolam reduced anxiety versus control and versus flumazenil+chrysin; chrysin did not differ from midazolam, suggesting a smaller, similar effect. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Elevated plus maze, corticosterone, catecholamines Limitations: Pure chrysin by injection, not the plant; the paper's own title calls chrysin 'a Passiflora extract', which it is not. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Cabral 2021 Hypoglycemic and Vasorelaxant Effect of Passiflora edulis Fruit Peel By-Product. Plant Foods Hum Nutr · PMID 34581915 · DOI	Animal research animal	Rats (type 1 diabetes model) and isolated rat artery rings	Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa peel extracts (water and water-alcohol) fruit peel 400 and 600 mg/kg (rats) · vs Untreated diabetic rats	The water-alcohol extract relaxed artery rings better, mainly by opening potassium channels. In diabetic rats that no longer responded to insulin, 400 and 600 mg/kg restored insulin's effect; the water extract worked best. Effects in rats and tissue only; no numbers in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Vasorelaxation of artery rings; response to insulin in diabetic rats Limitations: Animal and tissue study; doses are per kilogram of rat body weight and cannot be turned into a human dose. Read: abstract
Cabral 2022 Cardiovascular Effects Induced by Fruit Peels from Passiflora edulis in Hypertensive Rats and Fingerprint Analysis by HPLC-ESI-MSn spectrometry. Planta Med · PMID 34344056 · DOI	Animal research animal	Hypertensive rats	Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa fruit peel extract fruit peel 28 days · vs Untreated hypertensive rats (implied)	The extract lowered blood pressure after 28 days, improved blood vessel function and nitric oxide availability, lowered malondialdehyde (a stress marker) and raised glutathione and IL-10. Lower blood pressure in rats; no numbers in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Blood pressure; blood vessel function; oxidative stress markers Limitations: Rats only; no human data; dose not given in the abstract. Read: abstract
Carminati 2024 Passiflora incarnata L., herba, in benzodiazepine tapering: long-term safety and efficacy in a real-world setting. Front Psychiatry · PMID 39429529 · DOI	Observational	Follow-up (12 months) of the same outpatients who tapered benzodiazepines (number not in abstract)	Dry extract of Passiflora incarnata herba herb 12-month follow-up · vs Matched patients without add-on	The authors report the benefit held over time, that passiflora could be stopped easily with no rebound, withdrawal or dependence, and that no side effects were seen. Not given in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Benzodiazepine use; rebound, withdrawal and dependence on passiflora; side effects Limitations: Retrospective, follow-up by phone/contact, one centre; personality disorders made tapering harder. No numbers in abstract. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflict of interest Read: abstract
Carminati 2026 Synergistic Effect of Passiflora incarnata L., Herba and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Management of Benzodiazepine Misuse. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) · PMID 41599739 · DOI	Observational	186 186 outpatients with anxiety or depression in remission tapering benzodiazepines	Dry extract of Passiflora incarnata herba (93 patients) with or without cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) herb 200 mg versus 400 to 600 mg dry extract (subgroup) 3 months · vs Matched patients without the add-on (93 each)	Both CBT and passiflora were linked to bigger dose cuts (passiflora p<0.001; CBT p=0.005), and together they did better still. People on 400 to 600 mg cut more than those on 200 mg. Passiflora p<0.001, effect size 0.128; CBT p=0.005, effect size 0.032; interaction p=0.037 Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Reduction in benzodiazepine dose (diazepam-equivalent mg) Limitations: Retrospective, not randomised, same patient group as the 2023 report. The dose subgroup is observational. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflict of interest Read: abstract
Carrasco 2009 Interactions of Valeriana officinalis L. and Passiflora incarnata L. in a patient treated with lorazepam. Phytother Res · PMID 19441067 · DOI	Case report	1 Patient with generalised anxiety disorder taking lorazepam	Valerian plus passionflower self-medication on top of lorazepam unspecified · vs Lorazepam alone before	Handshaking, dizziness, throbbing and muscular fatigue within the 32 hours before diagnosis. Essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and Wilson's disease were ruled out from history. The authors suspect an additive or synergistic effect on GABA receptors. (EMA says symptoms disappeared after the herbs were stopped while lorazepam continued; the abstract does not say this.) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Interaction symptoms Limitations: One patient; two herbs taken together, so passionflower cannot be singled out; mechanism is the authors' suggestion. Read: abstract
Caruso 2017 Effects of nutraceuticals on quality of life and sexual function of perimenopausal women. J Endocrinol Invest · PMID 27300032 · DOI	Observational	60 60 perimenopausal women with hot flashes	Zemiar: a supplement of equol, resveratrol, quercetin and Passiflora unspecified 6 months	Kupperman total score fell from 35 to 21 at 3 months and to 18 at 6 months. All quality-of-life categories improved by 6 months. Kupperman 35 to 21 to 18 (p<0.05, p<0.01) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Modified Kupperman Index (menopause symptoms), quality of life (SF-36), sexual function Limitations: No control group, four-ingredient supplement; passiflora's contribution cannot be separated; hot flashes also improve over time by themselves. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Christoffoli 2021 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. Quintessence Int · PMID 34076379 · DOI	Controlled trial	20 20 young adults (mean age 22.5) having both lower wisdom teeth removed	Passiflora incarnata L. (oral) unspecified Single dose per visit · vs Midazolam (crossover, split-mouth)	Heart rate was best controlled with passiflora at one time point (P=0.036). Drowsiness, muscle relaxation and dizziness were greater with the benzodiazepine. Heart rate P=0.036 at one time point; other differences at certain times Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Heart rate and other body signs at 11 points during surgery; self-report form Limitations: Only 20 patients, no placebo arm, no dose in the abstract; many time points tested so some significant differences may be chance. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Căuș 2026 Efficacy and Safety of Herbal Supplements with Anxiolytic, Antidepressant, and Sedative Action: A Review of Clinical Data and Toxicological Risks. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) · PMID 41901246 · DOI	Systematic review	Review of clinical studies of several herbs	Several herbs including Passiflora incarnata unspecified	Narrative review: for the herbs reviewed as a group, it names liver-enzyme-mediated drug interactions, excess sedation, serotonin syndrome and harms from adulterated products. Passionflower-specific findings were not in the abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Interactions, adverse effects, adulteration Limitations: Narrative review; abstract does not separate passionflower. Read: abstract
Dantas 2017 Effects of passiflora incarnata and midazolam for control of anxiety in patients undergoing dental extraction. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal · PMID 27918731 · DOI	Controlled trial	40 40 volunteers having both lower wisdom teeth removed on separate days	Passiflora incarnata, oral (product not named in abstract) unspecified 260 mg, 30 minutes before surgery Single dose per visit · vs Midazolam 15 mg (crossover)	No difference in blood pressure, heart rate or oxygen saturation between the two. Over 70% felt quiet or a little anxious in both. With midazolam, 20% reported amnesia; passiflora barely affected memory. Similar anxiety control to midazolam; amnesia in 20% with midazolam, little or none with passiflora Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety questionnaires; heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation; memory Limitations: No placebo arm, so it shows passiflora is similar to midazolam but not that either beat a dummy pill. Single dose; the abstract gives no ages. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflict of interest Read: abstract
Dhawan 2001 Anxiolytic activity of aerial and underground parts of Passiflora incarnata. Fitoterapia · PMID 11731118 · DOI	Animal experiment animal	Mice	Petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water extracts of whole plant and sorted parts leaf, stem, flower, root methanol extracts effective at 100 (leaf), 125 (stem), 200 (flower), 300 (whole plant) mg/kg acute	Methanol extracts of leaves, stems, flowers and whole plant were anxiolytic at the doses given; roots were practically without effect. The authors say roots and flowers act as 'natural adulterants' by raising the needed dose and advise separating parts before standardizing. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Elevated plus maze Limitations: Mice; one research group. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Dhawan 2001 Correct Identification of Passiflora incarnata Linn., a Promising Herbal Anxiolytic and Sedative. J Med Food · PMID 12639407 · DOI	Botanical identification study in-vitro	P. incarnata vs P. edulis plant samples	Leaf constants, ash and extractive values, TLC of petroleum ether extract leaf	P. incarnata and P. edulis have long been listed as synonyms (Hooker 1843; Index Kewensis 1895) because they look alike. Leaf measurements, ash and extractive values and TLC patterns differ and can tell them apart. P. edulis is rarely reported to have strong CNS-depressant activity. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Vein-islet number, vein-termination number, stomatal number and index, ash/extractive values, TLC Limitations: Numbers not given in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Dhawan 2002 Antitussive activity of the methanol extract of Passiflora incarnata leaves. Fitoterapia · PMID 12165335 · DOI	Animal research animal	Mice with sulfur dioxide-induced cough	Passiflora incarnata leaf methanol extract leaf 100 and 200 mg/kg by mouth single dose · vs Codeine phosphate	Cough was reduced by 39.4% and 65.0% at the two doses, comparable to codeine at 10 and 20 mg/kg. 39.4% and 65.0% cough inhibition in mice Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Cough inhibition Limitations: Mice only; a methanol extract is not a tea or capsule; no human data. Read: abstract
Dhawan 2002 Comparative anxiolytic activity profile of various preparations of Passiflora incarnata linneaus: a comment on medicinal plants' standardization. J Altern Complement Med · PMID 12165186 · DOI	Animal experiment animal	Swiss albino mice	Mother tinctures from five homeopathic makers vs a methanol-extract standard aerial parts 100-400 mg/kg orally acute · vs methanol extract 125 mg/kg	Best doses differed by maker (200, 300, 400, 400 mg/kg) and one maker's product had no effect, so makers' products are not equal. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Entries to open arms of the elevated plus maze Limitations: Mice; the authors push their own BZF marker. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Dhawan 2003 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 · PMID 12935433	Animal experiment animal	Mice	BZF moiety plus diazepam aerial parts BZF 10, 50 or 100 mg/kg orally; diazepam 20 mg/kg 21 days plus 72 h off · vs diazepam alone	BZF alone did not cause withdrawal signs; with diazepam it dose-dependently prevented diazepam withdrawal behaviour. The aromatase idea is the authors' explanation only. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Ambulatory activity at withdrawal Limitations: Mice; BZF not structurally identified. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Dhawan 2004 Passiflora: a review update. J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 15261959 · DOI	Narrative review in-vitro	Genus Passiflora	n/a	Reviews the genus; names P. incarnata as the species with significant CNS-depressant properties and discusses the authors' own isolated 'benzoflavone' (BZF). Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Morphology, constituents, pharmacology Limitations: Narrative review by the group that proposed BZF; the EMA report notes BZF's structure and amounts have not been reported. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Dhawan K. 2003 Drug/substance reversal effects of a novel tri-substituted benzoflavone moiety (BZF) isolated from Passiflora incarnata Linn.--a brief perspective. Addict Biol · PMID 14690874 · DOI	Mini review by the discoverer animal	Mice and rats (author's earlier work)	BZF moiety from methanol extract aerial parts 10-100 mg/kg in the earlier mouse work various · vs various	Summarises the author's mouse and rat work; proposes BZF acts by blocking aromatase. The EMA report found no direct aromatase tests and that the structure of BZF is unknown. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Drug-dependence and sexual-function measures Limitations: Single research group; claimed compound not independently identified. Funding and conflicts: Author affiliation is a drugs-control department; funding not stated. Read: abstract
Dos Reis Izolan 2021 Sintocalmy, a Passiflora incarnata Based Herbal, Attenuates Morphine Withdrawal in Mice. Neurochem Res · PMID 33544325 · DOI	Animal research animal	Mice made dependent on morphine	Sintocalmy, a commercial Passiflora incarnata herbal (methanol extract, mainly vitexin and isovitexin) herb 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg by injection Single treatment · vs Control	50 and 100 mg/kg reduced withdrawal jumping without lowering general movement. 50 mg/kg prevented the rise in S100B in the frontal cortex and DNA damage. Less withdrawal behaviour in mice Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Naloxone-triggered withdrawal jumping; brain marker S100B; DNA damage Limitations: Mouse study, injected not swallowed, high doses compared with human use. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Elsas 2010 Passiflora incarnata L. (Passionflower) extracts elicit GABA currents in hippocampal neurons in vitro, and show anxiogenic and anticonvulsant effects in vivo, varying with extraction method. Phytomedicine · PMID 20382514 · DOI	In vitro electrophysiology plus animal experiment animal	Mouse hippocampal slices; CF-1 mice	Five extracts of one batch of P. incarnata (hot versus cold extraction methods) unspecified extracts in drinking water 1 week	Hot extraction gave much more flavonoid than cold. Whole extract produced direct GABA-A currents, but these vanished when amino acids were removed - GABA itself is a main ingredient. Two of five extracts protected against PTZ seizures. All five extracts made mice more anxious (anxiogenic), not less. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: GABA-A currents, flavonoid yield (HPLC-DAD), seizure test, elevated plus maze Limitations: Small mouse study; results differ by extraction method. Funding and conflicts: One author is a part-time employee of a botanical extract company that supplied some extracts. Read: abstract
European Medicines Agency 2014 Community herbal monograph on Passiflora incarnata L., herba (EMA/HMPC/669740/2013) EMA herbal monograph (final, adopted 25 March 2014) · Source	Authoritative guidance		Passiflora incarnata herba aerial parts	Read in full. Traditional herbal medicine for relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep, based only on long-standing use (not 'well-established use'). Contraindication: hypersensitivity. Not recommended under 12 years (lack of data). Interactions: none reported. Pregnancy and lactation: safety not established, use not recommended. May impair ability to drive and use machines; affected patients should not drive or operate machinery. Undesirable effects: none known. Overdose: no case reported. Tests of reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity have not been performed. See a doctor if symptoms last more than 2 weeks. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Traditional-use monograph: indication, contraindications, warnings Limitations: Traditional-use status means efficacy rests on long use, not trial proof. 'None known' reflects the 2014 evidence base. Read: full-text
European Medicines Agency 2014 Assessment report on Passiflora incarnata L., herba (EMA/HMPC/669738/2013) EMA assessment report (final, 25 March 2014) · Source	Authoritative guidance		Passiflora incarnata herba aerial parts	Read in full (sections on constituents, toxicity, safety). Constituents include gynocardin (a cyanogenic glycoside) and, in traces, beta-carboline alkaloids (harman, harmol, harmalol), which are undetectable in most commercial materials (ESCOP 2003). Animal: oral LD50 above 15 g/kg in mice and rats for a dry hydroalcoholic extract; no toxic signs in rats at 600 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks; no genotoxicity in one Aspergillus test; no carcinogenicity, reproductive or developmental studies; Ames test data missing. Clinical trials showed no safety signals. Case reports: one hypersensitivity vasculitis (Smith 1993); one case of nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, long QT and ventricular tachycardia (Fisher 2000; intake equal to 1.5 g and 2 g of crude drug on 2 days; causality cannot be judged); Irish spontaneous reports for unregistered single-herb products included nausea and thrombocytopenia, plus other serious events with other medicines taken (cause not established); no adverse events reported for registered EU products. One possible interaction with valerian in a patient on lorazepam (Carrasco 2009). Combining with synthetic sedatives such as benzodiazepines is not recommended. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Constituents, toxicology, clinical safety, pharmacovigilance Limitations: Regulator summary written in 2014. Spontaneous reports cannot show cause or frequency. Read: full-text
Farid 2010 Oral intake of purple passion fruit peel extract reduces pain and stiffness and improves physical function in adult patients with knee osteoarthritis. Nutr Res · PMID 20934601 · DOI	Controlled trial	33 Adults with knee osteoarthritis, Mashhad, Iran	Purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) peel extract, a flavonoid-rich supplement fruit peel 150 mg daily 2 months · vs Placebo pills	In the peel-extract group the total WOMAC score and the physical function score improved at 30 days and pain improved at 60 days. At 60 days self-reported pain, stiffness, physical function and total scores were 18.6%, 18%, 19.6% and 19.2% lower. In the placebo group the scores rose in every category. Lower self-reported WOMAC scores than placebo; the abstract gives percentage changes but no confidence intervals or between-group effect sizes Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: WOMAC osteoarthritis index (pain, stiffness, physical function, total) monthly Limitations: Very small (33 people), 2 months, self-reported symptoms, one centre; the abstract does not say how many people were in each group or how many dropped out; the extract is Passiflora edulis, not Passiflora incarnata (passionflower herb). Read: abstract
Faustino 2010 [Medicinal plants for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a review of controlled clinical studies]. Braz J Psychiatry · PMID 21308265 · DOI	Systematic review	Review of controlled trials of medicinal plants in generalised anxiety disorder	Herbal medicines including Passiflora incarnata unspecified · vs Placebo or standard drugs	Isolated studies with several plants, including Passiflora incarnata, showed potential use in anxiety. Very few controlled trials were found and they had serious design flaws. None for passiflora in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety scores Limitations: Abstract only; article is in Portuguese with an English abstract. Search limited to English-language studies. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Fisher 2000 Toxicity of Passiflora incarnata L. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol · PMID 10696928 · DOI	Case report	1 34-year-old woman	Passiflora incarnata herbal remedy unspecified therapeutic doses (per abstract)	Severe nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, prolonged QTc and episodes of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia after self-treating; admitted for cardiac monitoring and intravenous fluids. The link to passionflower was not recognised for several days. (EMA says the intake matched 1.5 g and 2 g of crude drug over 2 days and that causality cannot be judged.) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Adverse effects after use Limitations: One patient; product contents and other causes not described in the abstract. Read: abstract
Fonseca 2026 Dietary intervention with purple passion fruit peel in asthma: insights into Th2-mediated responses in an ovalbumin-induced murine model. Food Res Int · PMID 42270229 · DOI	Animal research animal	Mice with ovalbumin-induced asthma	Purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) peel as a food ingredient fruit peel 0.3% and 3.0% of the diet · vs Asthma control mice; dexamethasone	At 3.0% the peel raised antioxidant enzymes and reduced IgE (15.9%) and lung IL-4 (29.8%) and IL-5 (29.1%), with less inflammatory cell infiltration. IL-13 and lipid peroxidation did not change. No liver toxicity markers were affected. Reduced some allergic-inflammation markers in mice Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Allergy and inflammation markers, antioxidant enzymes, lung tissue Limitations: Mice only; abstract only; no human data. Read: abstract
Giavina-Bianchi PF Jr 1997 Occupational respiratory allergic disease induced by Passiflora alata and Rhamnus purshiana. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol · PMID 9396980 · DOI	Case report	1 Pharmacy worker preparing plant extracts by hand	Passiflora alata (a different species) extract unspecified	Skin tests, Western blot and bronchial challenge confirmed IgE-mediated allergy to Passiflora alata in a pharmacy worker. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Occupational asthma and rhinitis Limitations: Different species (P. alata, not P. incarnata); one worker; handling exposure, not swallowing. Read: abstract
Gibbert 2017 [Improvement of Stress Resistance and Quality of Life of Adults with Nervous Restlessness after Treatment with a Passion Flower Dry Extract]. Complement Med Res · PMID 28407638 · DOI	Observational	Adults with 'nervous restlessness' in routine care (number not in abstract)	Dry ethanolic extract of Passiflora incarnata unspecified 12 weeks · vs No comparison group	Resilience rose from 52.1 to 67.7 and EQ-VAS from 47.9 to 75.0 (both p<0.001). All accompanying symptoms improved. Three mild adverse events (tiredness). RS-13 52.1 to 67.7; EQ-VAS 47.9 to 75.0; BDEPQ 23.0 to 19.3 Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Resilience scale (RS-13), quality of life (EQ-5D, EQ-VAS), addiction potential questionnaire (BDEPQ) Limitations: Non-interventional study with no placebo or control group, so natural improvement and the placebo effect cannot be ruled out; sample size not in abstract; article in German. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Golsorkhi 2023 Herbal medicines in the treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): An updated systematic review of clinical trials. Avicenna J Phytomed · PMID 37663386 · DOI	Systematic review	15 studies of herbal medicines in children and adolescents with ADHD	Herbal medicines including Passiflora incarnata unspecified · vs Methylphenidate or placebo, varies	The review says passiflora, saffron and sweet almond had similar efficacy to methylphenidate in the trials found. It also states that, because of a lack of adequate RCT reports, no specific recommendations can be made. None in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: ADHD symptom ratings Limitations: Passiflora result rests on a single small trial (Akhondzadeh 2005). Abstract and PMC text read; original trial not read. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared Read: abstract
Goss 2018 Peel flour of Passiflora edulis Var. Flavicarpa supplementation prevents the insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis induced by low-fructose-diet in young rats. Biomed Pharmacother · PMID 29605773 · DOI	Animal research animal	Young rats given 10% fructose drinks	Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa peel flour fruit peel 30% of the diet 8 weeks · vs Fructose-fed rats without peel flour	Fructose caused insulin resistance, higher triglycerides and fatty liver; the peel-flour group did not show these changes. Prevented insulin resistance and liver fat in rats Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Insulin resistance, triglycerides, liver fat Limitations: Rats only; very large amount of peel flour in the diet. Read: abstract
Gow 2003 Fatal fulminant hepatic failure induced by a natural therapy containing kava. Med J Aust · PMID 12720510 · DOI	Case report	1 One patient who died	Preparation containing kava and passionflower unspecified	Acute liver failure and death with a preparation containing kava (Piper methysticum) and passionflower. Kava is the known liver risk; the abstract does not blame passionflower. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Acute liver failure Limitations: One patient; kava is the likely cause. Included only because passionflower was in the product. Read: abstract
Grundmann 2008 Anxiolytic activity of a phytochemically characterized Passiflora incarnata extract is mediated via the GABAergic system. Planta Med · PMID 19006051 · DOI	Animal research animal	Mice (elevated plus maze)	Commercial Passiflora incarnata extract with orientin, vitexin and related flavonoids herb 375 mg/kg by mouth Single dose · vs Diazepam 1.5 mg/kg	The extract had an anxiety-reducing effect comparable to diazepam at 375 mg/kg, with a U-shaped dose response. Flumazenil (a benzodiazepine blocker) cancelled the effect; a serotonin 1A blocker did not. Comparable to diazepam in mice Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety-like behaviour in a maze Limitations: Mouse study; the dose is far above anything given to people; the flumazenil result sits oddly with the in-vitro finding that the benzodiazepine site is not affected. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Harit 2024 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of Passiflora incarnata in Participants With Stress and Sleep Problems. Cureus · PMID 38646244 · DOI	Controlled trial	65 65 adults in India with stress and insomnia	SIVI, a standardised extract of aerial parts of Passiflora incarnata aerial parts 30 days · vs Placebo	Passionflower extract lowered perceived stress and raised total sleep time compared with placebo, and improved general psychological health on days 15 and 30. No adverse effects reported. Statistically significant improvement in Perceived Stress Scale and total sleep time vs placebo (numbers not in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Perceived Stress Scale, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Insomnia Severity Index Limitations: Small, one month, company staff co-authored the study, no numbers in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Some authors work for JK Botanicals Private Limited, declared; the abstract does not say who makes the SIVI extract Read: abstract
Janda 2020 Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders-A Systematic Review. Nutrients · PMID 33352740 · DOI	Systematic review	9 clinical trials (one day to 30 days long) in adults, anxiety, insomnia, surgery-related anxiety	Passiflora incarnata preparations (various) unspecified 1 to 30 days · vs Placebo or comparators, varies	Most trials reported lower anxiety after passiflora, and the effect was less clear in people with only mild anxiety symptoms. No adverse effects such as memory loss or loss of psychometric function were observed. No pooled numbers in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety, sleep and other neuropsychiatric symptoms Limitations: Abstract only. Nine small, short, different trials; no pooled analysis or formal certainty rating given in the abstract. Search ended October 2019. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared Read: abstract
Jawna-Zboinska 2016 Passiflora incarnata L. Improves Spatial Memory, Reduces Stress, and Affects Neurotransmission in Rats. Phytother Res · PMID 26814055 · DOI	Animal experiment animal	Young male Wistar rats	P. incarnata extract in drinking water unspecified 30, 100 or 300 mg/kg/day 7 weeks · vs control group	Less anxiety and a dose-dependent memory improvement. Hippocampal glutamate and cortical serotonin were lower, with higher metabolite levels and turnover. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Water-maze memory, anxiety, brain amino acids and monoamines (HPLC) Limitations: Rats; group sizes not read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Kafas 2025 Anxiolytic Potential of Passiflora incarnata in Oral Surgery: Mechanisms, Evidence and Clinical Application. Pak J Biol Sci · PMID 41392563 · DOI	Systematic review	Literature review of passionflower for anxiety in oral surgery	Passiflora incarnata unspecified · vs Midazolam, oxazepam and others as discussed	The authors state randomised trials show passionflower lowers anxiety before dental and surgical procedures, comparable to midazolam and oxazepam, with fewer side effects, and call for larger trials with standard preparations. None in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety around oral surgery Limitations: Abstract only. Narrative review; the 'comparable to oxazepam' statement rests on one small pilot trial for generalised anxiety, not a surgery trial. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Kargozar 2017 A review of effective herbal medicines in controlling menopausal symptoms. Electron Physician · PMID 29403626 · DOI	Narrative review	Review of herbal medicines for menopausal symptoms (trials from 1994 to 2016)	Many herbs, including Passiflora incarnata varied varied varied · vs varied	Lists Passiflora incarnata among 18 plants described as effective for acute menopausal syndrome; the abstract gives no detail on passionflower. No numbers Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Acute menopausal symptoms Limitations: Passionflower appears only in a list; no trial, dose or result for passionflower is given in the abstract. Read: abstract
Kaviani 2013 The efficacy of passiflora incarnata linnaeus in reducing dental anxiety in patients undergoing periodontal treatment. J Dent (Shiraz) · PMID 24724122	Controlled trial	63 63 people with moderate to severe dental anxiety needing gum (periodontal) treatment	Passiflora incarnata drops (premedication) unspecified Single dose before treatment · vs Placebo drops; and a no-treatment group	Mean anxiety fell from 12.09 to 8.47 with passionflower, from 12.00 to 10.52 with placebo and 11.66 to 11.23 with no treatment (p<0.0001 for the passionflower group versus the others). Passionflower 12.09 to 8.47; placebo 12.00 to 10.52; none 11.66 to 11.23; p<0.0001 Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Visual analogue scale of anxiety Limitations: Only one side blinded (one-sided blind), a no-treatment group, no dose or product details in the abstract, small groups of 21. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Keck 2020 Effect of the fixed combination of valerian, lemon balm, passionflower, and butterbur extracts (Ze 185) on the prescription pattern of benzodiazepines in hospitalized psychiatric patients-A retrospective case-control investigation. Phytother Res · PMID 31985131 · DOI	Observational	3252 3,252 hospitalised psychiatric patients (1,548 received Ze 185, 1,704 matched controls)	Ze 185: a fixed combination of valerian, lemon balm, passionflower and butterbur extracts unspecified Hospital stay (3.5 years of records) · vs Matched controls without Ze 185	Both groups had comparable clinical effectiveness, with significantly fewer benzodiazepine prescriptions in the Ze 185 group (p=0.006). Fewer benzodiazepine prescriptions (p=0.006) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Benzodiazepine prescriptions; clinical effectiveness of the hospital stay Limitations: Retrospective chart review, not randomised; combination product; patient selection may differ; the authors say a randomised trial is needed. Funding and conflicts: Several authors are employees of Max Zeller Soehne AG, declared Read: abstract
Kim 2017 Role Identification of Passiflora Incarnata Linnaeus: A Mini Review. J Menopausal Med · PMID 29354614 · DOI	Systematic review	Mini review of Passiflora incarnata with a menopause focus	Passiflora incarnata unspecified	The authors state that Passiflora incarnata affects menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia and depression, without giving trial numbers in the abstract. None Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pharmacology and menopause symptoms Limitations: Abstract only. A short narrative mini review; the menopause statement is not backed by trial data in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared Read: abstract
Kim 2020 Sleep-inducing effect of Passiflora incarnata L. extract by single and repeated oral administration in rodent animals. Food Sci Nutr · PMID 31993179 · DOI	Animal research animal	Rodents and rat glioma cells	Passiflora incarnata extract (leaves and fruit 8:2) leaf+fruit 500 mg/kg once or 250 mg/kg repeated, by mouth Single and repeated dosing	Sleep-related behaviour (immobility and eye closing) increased and blood melatonin rose in treated animals. Longer immobility time and higher melatonin in rodents Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Sleep-inducing behaviour; GABA receptor gene activity; blood melatonin Limitations: Animal and cell study; mixed leaf and fruit extract unlike most products. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared Read: abstract
Lee 2020 Effects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Int Clin Psychopharmacol · PMID 31714321 · DOI	Controlled trial	110 110 adults with insomnia disorder (DSM-5), mean age about 40	Passiflora incarnata extract (product not named in abstract) unspecified 2 weeks · vs Placebo	Total sleep time rose more with passionflower than placebo. Sleep efficiency and time awake after falling asleep improved within the passionflower group but not versus placebo. Total sleep time change 23.05 +/- 54.26 vs -0.16 +/- 53.12 (passionflower vs placebo), P=0.049; units not stated in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Overnight sleep recording (total sleep time, efficiency, wake after sleep onset), sleep diary, ISI, PSQI Limitations: Borderline p-value (0.049); only one of several measures was better than placebo; two weeks only; questionnaire results (ISI, PSQI) are not reported in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Lemoine 2019 A combination of melatonin, vitamin B6 and medicinal plants in the treatment of mild-to-moderate insomnia: A prospective pilot study. Complement Ther Med · PMID 31331545 · DOI	Observational	40 40 adults in Poland with mild to moderate insomnia	Novanuit: melatonin, vitamin B6, California poppy, passionflower and lemon balm extracts unspecified Capsules daily (strength not in abstract) 2 weeks of treatment (abstract also calls it a 4-week study)	Sleep quality score rose from 5.4 to 7.3 out of 10 (p<0.001); sleep onset time, sleep duration and daytime parameters also improved (p<0.01). Sleep quality +1.9 points on a 0-10 scale Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Sleep diary: quality, duration, latency Limitations: Single group, open label, no placebo; includes melatonin, which alone helps sleep; company staff were involved. Funding and conflicts: Authors include Sanofi Consumer Health Care staff, declared (the abstract does not say who makes the product) Read: abstract
Lima 2016 Passiflora edulis peel intake improves insulin sensitivity, increasing incretins and hypothalamic satietogenic neuropeptide in rats on a high-fat diet. Nutrition · PMID 27138107 · DOI	Animal research animal	Sprague-Dawley rats on a high-fat diet	Passiflora edulis peel flour fruit peel fed in the diet (amount not given in the abstract) 6 weeks after 4 weeks of high-fat diet · vs High-fat diet without peel flour	Peel flour reduced weight gain and fat, lowered leptin, raised adiponectin and the gut hormones GIP and GLP-1, and improved insulin sensitivity. Improved insulin sensitivity in rats Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Glucose and insulin tolerance, body weight, adiposity, gut hormones Limitations: Rats only; relevance to people unknown. Read: abstract
Lima Neto 2025 Effects of Passiflora incarnata on salivary biomarkers and anxiety in patients undergoing third molar extraction surgery. Sci Rep · PMID 41381570 · DOI	Controlled trial	30 30 healthy people aged 16 to 35 with impacted wisdom teeth, 10 per group	Passiflora incarnata (oral) unspecified Single dose, 30 minutes before surgery · vs Placebo and midazolam	No difference between groups on anxiety scores or most body measures. Diastolic blood pressure was higher with passiflora. Saliva cortisol after surgery was lower than placebo for both passiflora and midazolam. Cortisol lower than placebo (p<0.05) with passiflora and midazolam; anxiety scores not different (p>0.05) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety scales (Corah, MDAS, HAD); heart rate and blood pressure; saliva cortisol and alpha-amylase Limitations: Only 10 per group; no difference on the questionnaires that matter most to patients; cortisol is a lab marker, not a symptom. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests Read: abstract
Maroo 2013 Efficacy and safety of a polyherbal sedative-hypnotic formulation NSF-3 in primary insomnia in comparison to zolpidem: a randomized controlled trial. Indian J Pharmacol · PMID 23543804 · DOI	Controlled trial	91 91 adults with primary insomnia (39 per group finished)	NSF-3: a tablet with standardised extracts of valerian, Passiflora incarnata and hops unspecified 1 tablet at bedtime 2 weeks · vs Zolpidem 10 mg	Sleep improved significantly in both groups with no difference between them. 12 side effects with NSF-3 and 16 with zolpidem, mostly mild (drowsiness). Both improved; no significant difference between NSF-3 and zolpidem Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Sleep diary (total sleep time, sleep latency, awakenings), Insomnia Severity Index, sleepiness scale Limitations: No placebo arm; combination product; short; about 15% dropped out; passionflower's own contribution unknown. Funding and conflicts: Study drugs donated by Tablets India; authors say the company had no role Read: abstract
Mazzari ALDA 2022 In vitro effects of European and Latin-American medicinal plants in CYP3A4 gene expression, glutathione levels, and P-glycoprotein activity. Front Pharmacol · PMID 36278236 · DOI	In vitro screening in-vitro	Human liver (HepG2) and gut (Caco-2) cell lines	Plant infusions up to 100 microg/mL (including P. incarnata) unspecified up to 100 microg/mL acute	P. incarnata infusion significantly increased CYP3A4 mRNA in HepG2 cells, lowered total glutathione and raised GGT activity; it was not among the plants listed as changing P-gp activity. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: CYP3A4 mRNA, glutathione, P-glycoprotein, GGT Limitations: One of 19 plants screened; cell lines; mRNA is not enzyme activity in people. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared. Read: abstract
McCullagh 2021 Profiling of the known-unknown Passiflora variant complement by liquid chromatography - Ion mobility - Mass spectrometry. Talanta · PMID 33076047 · DOI	Chemical fingerprinting study in-vitro	Extracts of P. alata, P. edulis, P. incarnata, P. caerulea	Plant extracts unspecified	Detected 255 isomer/isobaric features and showed that the four species can be told apart by their chemical fingerprint. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Species-specific marker compounds Limitations: Method paper; the manufacturer of the instrument is the employer of most authors. Funding and conflicts: Authors mostly employed by Waters Corporation (instrument maker). Read: abstract
Meier 2018 Effects of a fixed herbal drug combination (Ze 185) to an experimental acute stress setting in healthy men - An explorative randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study. Phytomedicine · PMID 29433687 · DOI	Controlled trial	72 72 healthy men given a standard laboratory stress test	Ze 185: a fixed combination of valerian, passionflower, lemon balm and butterbur extracts unspecified 4 days before the stress test · vs Placebo and a no-treatment group	Cortisol rise did not differ between groups. Self-reported anxiety response to the stress was lower with Ze 185 than with placebo (p=0.03) and than with no treatment (p=0.05). Anxiety response lower (p=0.03 vs placebo); cortisol response not different Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Saliva cortisol; self-reported anxiety Limitations: Exploratory study; combination product so the effect cannot be given to passionflower alone; healthy men only; borderline p-values; company staff co-authored. Funding and conflicts: Several authors are employees of Max Zeller Soehne AG, declared Read: abstract
Mielczarek 2026 Neuroprotective and Neuromodulatory Potential of Valeriana officinalis, Passiflora incarnata, and Ginkgo biloba: Efficacy, Safety, and Regulatory Aspects. Plants (Basel) · PMID 42739461 · DOI	Systematic review	Narrative review of valerian, passionflower and ginkgo in nervous system disorders	Passiflora incarnata (and valerian, ginkgo) unspecified · vs Various	Passionflower showed anxiety-reducing and mild sedative effects in several controlled trials. Authors state acceptable safety at recommended doses and call for better standardised high-quality trials. None in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Efficacy, safety, regulatory status Limitations: Abstract only. A narrative review, not a pooled analysis; no certainty rating in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared Read: abstract
Miroddi 2013 Passiflora incarnata L.: ethnopharmacology, clinical application, safety and evaluation of clinical trials. J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 24140586 · DOI	Systematic review	Review of pharmacology, clinical trials and safety of Passiflora incarnata	Passiflora incarnata products (various) unspecified · vs Various	The authors concluded that the claimed anxiety and sleep benefits are not adequately supported by the literature. Trials often had poor product description, small samples, no description of blinding or randomisation, wrong placebo definitions, and no intention-to-treat analysis. They described a good safety profile. None given Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Quality of clinical trials; safety Limitations: Abstract only. Published 2013, so later trials are not covered. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Miyasaka 2007 Passiflora for anxiety disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 17253512 · DOI	Systematic review	198 2 randomised trials of passiflora in anxiety disorders (198 participants in total)	Passiflora extract (various) unspecified · vs Benzodiazepines (oxazepam in one trial, mexazolam in the other)	Cochrane review. One study found no difference in effect between a benzodiazepine and passiflora. Dropout was similar. One study suggested better job performance with passiflora and one a lower rate of drowsiness compared with mexazolam, but neither reached statistical significance. Authors concluded there were too few trials to draw any conclusion. No pooled effect size given in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety scales such as Hamilton Anxiety; side effects Limitations: Abstract only. Search was last run before 2007, so it misses all later trials. The second trial (against mexazolam) is not named in the abstract and could not be found on PubMed, so it was not checked. Funding and conflicts: Authors report no conflict ('none known') Read: abstract
Movafegh 2008 Preoperative oral Passiflora incarnata reduces anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Anesth Analg · PMID 18499602 · DOI	Controlled trial	60 60 adults having outpatient surgery	Passiflora incarnata tablet (Passipy) unspecified 500 mg once, 90 minutes before surgery Single dose · vs Placebo	Anxiety scores were lower with passiflora than placebo (P<0.001). Sedation, psychomotor recovery and time to discharge were similar. Lower anxiety (P<0.001); no extra sedation; psychomotor function same Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety and sedation rating scale; psychomotor tests (Trieger dot, digit-symbol); discharge time Limitations: Single dose, one self-rating scale (NRS), outpatient surgery only. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH) 2025 Passionflower: Usefulness and Safety (NCCIH Herbs at a Glance) NCCIH web page (last updated April 2025) · Source	Authoritative guidance		Passiflora incarnata aerial parts (not stated)	Read in full. Says passionflower is likely safe as a food flavouring; may be safe as a tea for up to 7 nights and as a daily extract for up to 8 weeks; possible side effects are drowsiness, dizziness and confusion. Safety on the skin is not known. It might interact with some anesthesia drugs and could slow the nervous system too much alongside anesthesia or other medicines used before and after surgery; talk to your provider if taking it within 2 weeks of surgery. Should not be used in pregnancy because it may induce uterine contractions and possibly lead to other problems. Little is known about breastfeeding. Says research on anxiety and other conditions has not been extensive. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Safety summary Limitations: Consumer fact sheet; gives no numbers, frequencies or study citations for the pregnancy and anesthesia statements. Read: full-text
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) 2020 Passionflower (LiverTox, NIDDK/NLM) NCBI Bookshelf LiverTox (entry dated 28 March 2020) · Source	Authoritative guidance		Passiflora incarnata flower/aerial parts	NOT read in full (the page blocks automated access). A web-search summary of the opening of the entry says passionflower has not been linked to serum enzyme elevations or to clinically apparent liver injury. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Liver safety summary Limitations: Second-hand summary of the opening statement only; likelihood score and case list not seen. Read: summary-only
Ngan 2011 A double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the effects of Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) herbal tea on subjective sleep quality. Phytother Res · PMID 21294203 · DOI	Controlled trial	41 41 healthy adults aged 18 to 35 with mild everyday changes in sleep (10 also had overnight sleep recording)	Passiflora incarnata herbal tea unspecified 1 cup of tea per day (strength not given in the abstract) 7 days per tea, with a 1-week washout · vs Placebo tea (crossover)	Of six sleep-diary measures, only sleep quality was better with passionflower tea than placebo tea. Sleep quality rating better than placebo, t(40)=2.70, p<0.01 Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Sleep diary (6 measures), state-trait anxiety, sleep recording in 10 people Limitations: Healthy volunteers with no sleep disorder, one week, subjective diary; the sleep recording in only 10 people is not reported in the abstract; the other five diary measures did not differ. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Noorazar 2024 Iranian Traditional Medicine for Treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity in Children: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Iran J Public Health · PMID 38894827 · DOI	Systematic review	8 trials of traditional Persian/Iranian medicine in children and adolescents with ADHD	Herbal and other traditional remedies including Passiflora incarnata unspecified · vs Various	The authors report reduced ADHD severity in all included studies except those on Ginkgo biloba, including the passiflora extract trial, and call the remedies efficient and safe. None in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: ADHD symptom severity Limitations: Abstract only. The authors' conclusion is more positive than the evidence level seems to support: trials are few and small. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Not verified (see journal page) 2014 Passiflora incarnata treatment during gestation and lactation: toxicological and antioxidant evaluation in Wistar dams Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences · Source	Animal research animal		Passiflora incarnata extract unspecified	Summary-only (search-result description, not read). Rats given the extract by gavage at 30 or 300 mg/kg through pregnancy and lactation showed no effect on the mothers' body weight, reproductive outcomes or liver markers. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pregnancy and lactation exposure in rats Limitations: Rat study, summary-only; author list taken from memory of the journal listing and not checked; does not show human pregnancy safety. Read: summary-only
Rigillo 2025 Medicinal Plants for Child Mental Health: Clinical Insights, Active Compounds, and Perspectives for Rational Use. Children (Basel) · PMID 41007011 · DOI	Systematic review	29 clinical trials of herbal products for mental health symptoms in children and adolescents	Several herbs including Passiflora incarnata unspecified · vs Various	The review lists Passiflora incarnata among the herbs showing clinical promise for children's mental health symptoms, and says standardised preparations and clinical oversight are needed. None in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Behaviour, cognition, anxiety, sleep Limitations: Abstract only. Not specific to passionflower; some authors work for a children's herbal company. Funding and conflicts: Three authors are employees of Pediatrica s.r.l. (declared) Read: abstract
Rokhtabnak 2017 Comparing the Effect of Preoperative Administration of Melatonin and Passiflora incarnata on Postoperative Cognitive Disorders in Adult Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery. Anesth Pain Med · PMID 28920038 · DOI	Controlled trial	52 52 adults having elective surgery	Passiflora incarnata (oral, 'Nature Made') unspecified 1000 mg one hour before surgery Single dose · vs Melatonin 6 mg	Both lowered anxiety significantly (P=0.001). Melatonin caused more sedation but less thinking impairment; the passiflora group showed a significant change in the digit-symbol test. Anxiety fell with both; DSST differed between groups before surgery (P=0.04) and at discharge (P=0.007) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety and sedation (Ramsay score); thinking tests (digit-symbol substitution); pain Limitations: No placebo arm; the 1000 mg dose is high compared with other trials; only the abstract was read. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Sarris 2018 Herbal medicines in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: 10-year updated review. Phytother Res · PMID 29575228 · DOI	Systematic review	Narrative/systematic update of herbal medicines in psychiatric disorders (24 herbs, 11 disorders)	Herbal medicines including Passiflora species unspecified · vs Various	The review states that high-quality evidence exists for kava, Passiflora species and Galphimia glauca in anxiety disorders. This is the reviewer's own wording and is more positive than the Cochrane review (2007) and the Miroddi review (2013) on the same few trials. No numbers in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Clinical trial evidence by disorder Limitations: Abstract only. Passiflora here means the genus, not only P. incarnata. No formal GRADE rating stated in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Schafer 2022 Constituents of Passiflora incarnata, but Not of Valeriana officinalis, Interact with the Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides (OATP)2B1 and OATP1A2. Planta Med · PMID 33511622 · DOI	In vitro transporter study in-vitro	Dog kidney (MDCK) cells made to carry OATP2B1 or OATP1A2	Apigenin, orientin, vitexin; commercial P. incarnata preparations unspecified acute · vs valerenic acid (valerian)	Apigenin, orientin and vitexin blocked both transporters; orientin is a substrate of both, vitexin of OATP2B1, apigenin of OATP1A2. Commercial P. incarnata preparations blocked estrone 3-sulfate uptake, and orientin and vitexin were found in them by HPLC-MS. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Uptake of sulfated steroids (estrone 3-sulfate, etc.) through OATP2B1/OATP1A2 Limitations: Cell model; no human data. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared. Read: abstract
Schunck 2017 Standardized Passiflora incarnata L. Extract Reverts the Analgesia Induced by Alcohol Withdrawal in Rats. Phytother Res · PMID 28568647 · DOI	Animal research animal	Male adult rats after alcohol withdrawal	Standardized commercial Passiflora incarnata extract 200 mg/kg by mouth 8 days · vs Water	Alcohol withdrawal raised pain thresholds; the extract brought them back toward normal on the hot plate test. It did not reverse changes in BDNF or IL-10 in the prefrontal cortex. Reversed a withdrawal-induced change in pain threshold in rats Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pain thresholds (hot plate, tail flick) Limitations: Rats only; an alcohol-withdrawal model, not ordinary pain; the finding concerns a change the withdrawal caused, not pain relief in general. Read: abstract
Seigler 2002 Cyanogenic allosides and glucosides from Passiflora edulis and Carica papaya. Phytochemistry · PMID 12150815 · DOI	Laboratory research in-vitro	Plant chemistry	Passiflora edulis (passion fruit; a different species) leaf, stem, fruit	Leaf and stem of Passiflora edulis contain new cyanogenic glycosides plus prunasin and sambunigrin; fruit major cyanogens are prunasin and related compounds. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Chemistry Limitations: Different species (P. edulis); chemistry only; no amounts relevant to supplements. Read: abstract
Singh 2012 Dual protective effect of Passiflora incarnata in epilepsy and associated post-ictal depression. J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 22107833 · DOI	Animal experiment animal	Mice given repeated pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)	Hydroethanolic extract of aerial parts aerial parts 150, 300, 600 mg/kg intraperitoneal 10 days of extract on a 15-day PTZ schedule · vs vehicle; diazepam 2 mg/kg	Extract lowered seizure severity and immobility and kept brain serotonin and noradrenaline from falling. The paper states (as background, not as its own finding) that harmala alkaloids are reversible MAO-A inhibitors; MAO activity itself was not measured. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Seizure score, immobility in forced swim, brain serotonin and noradrenaline Limitations: Injection route; mice. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Smith 1993 Vasculitis associated with herbal preparation containing Passiflora extract. Br J Rheumatol · PMID 8422575 · DOI	Case report	1 Not available in PubMed record	Herbal preparation containing Passiflora extract unspecified	PubMed lists the title only (no abstract). The EMA assessment report describes it as one case of hypersensitivity vasculitis. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Vasculitis Limitations: Details (product mix, timing, outcome) not read; the preparation contained Passiflora extract, possibly with other ingredients. Read: summary-only
Soulimani 1997 Behavioural effects of Passiflora incarnata L. and its indole alkaloid and flavonoid derivatives and maltol in the mouse. J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 9234160 · DOI	Animal research animal	Mice	Extracts, harman-type alkaloids, flavonoids and maltol aerial parts	Anxiolytic-type effect of a hydroalcoholic extract at 400 mg/kg; the aqueous extract increased sleep after a sub-hypnotic dose of pentobarbital. Alkaloids (harman, harmine, harmaline, harmol, harmalol), maltol and flavonoids were also tested. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Behaviour Limitations: Mouse study; alkaloids are not shown to be present in commercial products. Read: abstract
Sousa 2020 Effectiveness of Passion Fruit Peel Flour (Passiflora edulis L.) versus Turmeric Flour (Curcuma longa L.) on Glycemic Control: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Curr Diabetes Rev · PMID 31738145 · DOI	Meta-analysis	People with diabetes (11 studies in total, covering both passion fruit peel flour and turmeric)	Passion fruit peel flour and turmeric flour fruit peel varied varied · vs Each other / controls	Both interventions had significant effects on glycaemic control. Pooled effect for passion fruit peel flour 0.32; for turmeric 0.73; combined 0.59. All significant at p < 0.05. Pooled effect size 0.32 for passion fruit peel flour (95% CI 0.23 to 0.45); the abstract does not say what kind of effect measure this is or how many studies were passion fruit studies (0.23 to 0.45) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) Limitations: Only the abstract was read; the number of passion fruit studies, the effect measure, and the risk-of-bias findings are not given in the abstract; mixes study designs (case-control, cohort, trials); the turmeric comparison is a different plant. Read: abstract
Sousa 2021 Cost-Effectiveness of Passion Fruit Albedo versus Turmeric in the Glycemic and Lipaemic Control of People with Type 2 Diabetes: Randomized Clinical Trial. J Am Coll Nutr · PMID 33141635 · DOI	Controlled trial	89 Adults with type 2 diabetes, Brazil	Yellow passion fruit albedo (white inner peel) flour; compared with long turmeric plus piperine fruit peel (albedo) 500 mg capsules three times daily 120 days · vs Placebo (carboxymethyl cellulose 500 mg) plus standard advice; turmeric-piperine arm for comparison	Fasting glucose fell 5.9% with passion fruit albedo flour versus a 9% rise with placebo and a 3.2% fall with turmeric (P < 0.05). HbA1c fell about 0.8% in both active groups versus placebo (P < 0.05). HOMA-IR fell most with turmeric (-9.4%). Triglycerides fell 20.8% with turmeric and rose 1.8% with the passion fruit flour. Fasting glucose and HbA1c lower than placebo with the peel flour; no change in triglycerides; no confidence intervals in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Fasting glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, triglycerides Limitations: Abstract only; the main aim was cost-effectiveness, with turmeric judged the better value; unclear blinding of the three arms; passion fruit arm took 1.5 g a day, far less than the 30 g flour dose in the earlier study; Passiflora edulis, not P. incarnata. Read: abstract
Spencer 1984 Gynocardin from passiflora. Planta Med · PMID 17340327 · DOI	Laboratory research in-vitro	Plant chemistry	Passiflora species (the abstract does not name which) unspecified	Gynocardin, a cyanogenic glycoside typical of the Flacourtiaceae family, was isolated for the first time from a Passiflora species. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Chemistry Limitations: Chemistry only; no amounts, no human relevance in the abstract. Read: abstract
Stonkutė 2026 Preoperative Anxiolysis in Surgical Care Without Sedation or General Anesthesia: A Systematic Review. Dent J (Basel) · PMID 42345918 · DOI	Systematic review	617 8 randomised and quasi-randomised trials (617 adults) of preoperative anxiety treatment in oral surgery under local anaesthesia	Several interventions; one arm was Passiflora incarnata unspecified · vs Placebo or other drugs	Benzodiazepines lowered anxiety most consistently. Passiflora incarnata was comparable to midazolam and better than placebo; Erythrina mulungu had no effect. No pooled numbers in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety scales (DAS, STAI, VAS-A); vital signs; adverse events Limitations: Abstract only. Narrative synthesis because the trials were too different to pool. Only one passiflora trial included. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared Registration: PROSPERO CRD420261281592 Read: abstract
Suciu 2025 Evaluation of the Antihyperalgesic Potential of Morus alba, Angelica archangelica, Valeriana officinalis, and Passiflora incarnata in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Neuropathy in Rats. Curr Issues Mol Biol · PMID 41020842 · DOI	Animal research animal	Rats with alloxan-induced diabetic nerve pain	Plant extracts including Passiflora incarnata 200 mg/kg/day by mouth 15 days · vs Diabetic control rats; gabapentin 100 mg/kg/day	All extracts, including passionflower, improved pain thresholds and lowered inflammatory markers compared with untreated diabetic rats; mulberry (Morus alba) was the strongest. Improved pain thresholds in rats; passionflower's own effect size is not given in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Heat and touch pain sensitivity; TNF-alpha and IL-6 in brain and liver Limitations: Rats only; passionflower was not the best performer; the abstract does not separate its effect. Read: abstract
Toda 2017 Passionflower Extract Induces High-amplitude Rhythms without Phase Shifts in the Expression of Several Circadian Clock Genes in Vitro and in Vivo. Int J Biomed Sci · PMID 28824345	Cell and animal experiment animal	Mouse NIH3T3 cells; mice	Aerial-part extract of P. incarnata (PFE); purified isovitexin 2''-O-glucoside, isoschaftoside, homoorientin aerial parts 100 microg/mL in cells; 100 mg/kg/day in mice 15 days · vs muscimol 0.2 mg/kg	The extract strengthened daily rhythms of several clock genes; the three purified flavonoids raised Per2 mRNA. Mice slept sooner and longer, similar to muscimol. Dopamine rose at one time point and mRNA of MAO, COMT and GAD changed (enzyme activity not measured). Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Clock-gene mRNA, corticosterone, sleep latency/time (pentobarbital test), dopamine, MAO, COMT, GAD mRNA Limitations: Company-run study (employees of a supplement maker); mouse and cell data. Funding and conflicts: Authors are employees of Oryza Oil & Fat Chemical Co., a maker of plant extracts. Read: abstract
Trompetter 2013 Herbal triplet in treatment of nervous agitation in children. Wien Med Wochenschr · PMID 23179673 · DOI	Observational	115 115 children aged 6 to 12 with nervous agitation (observed about 2 years)	Fixed combination of St John's wort, valerian and passionflower extracts herb About 2 years of observation	Parents reported clear improvement in attention problems, social withdrawal, anxiety and low mood. Doctors rated 81.6 to 93.9% of children as having no or mild symptoms at the end in nine of thirteen symptoms. Not a controlled comparison Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Parent and doctor ratings of symptoms Limitations: No control group; three-herb combination so passionflower's part is unknown; results are parent and doctor ratings; some children also had other medication or therapy (the authors say this did not change the result). Funding and conflicts: One author is at a pharmaceutical company (PASCOE), declared in the affiliation; the abstract does not say who makes the product Read: abstract
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (eCFR) 2026 21 CFR 172.510: Natural flavoring substances and natural substances used in conjunction with flavors Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (current) · Source	Authoritative guidance		Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata L.) unspecified	Read the table. 'Passion flower, Passiflora incarnata L' is listed with no limitation among natural flavoring substances that may be safely used in food under the stated conditions (minimum quantity needed, good manufacturing practice). This is a food-additive listing for flavouring, not a safety finding for supplements. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Food-use status Limitations: Covers flavouring use only. Says nothing about supplement doses or medicinal use. Read: full-text
Velasquez 2024 Effects of Passiflora incarnata and Valeriana officinalis in the control of anxiety due to tooth extraction: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Oral Maxillofac Surg · PMID 38743126 · DOI	Controlled trial	54 54 patients having two wisdom teeth removed	Passiflora incarnata (oral); also a valerian arm unspecified Single dose around surgery · vs Placebo (and valerian arm)	Anxiety scores fell between before and after surgery with passiflora and with valerian but not with placebo. Surgical discomfort did not change. Vital signs were variable. STAI-S fell with passiflora (p<0.05) and not with placebo (p=0.129) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (state); discomfort questionnaire; vital signs Limitations: Small groups (about 18 each); the comparison is within each group over time, not a direct head-to-head test against placebo. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Registration: Brazilian clinical trials registry klRBR-6kcxvrc Read: abstract
Wang 2015 Effects of vitexin on the pharmacokinetics and mRNA expression of CYP isozymes in rats. Phytother Res · PMID 25447838 · DOI	Animal drug interaction study animal	Rats	Pure vitexin injected into a tail vein short or long period	No effect on CYP1A2; CYP3A1 inhibited; CYP2C11 induced after short and inhibited after long treatment; mRNA matched. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Probe drugs for CYP1A2, 2C11, 3A1 Limitations: Pure vitexin given IV in rats; dose not read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Watson 2008 Oral administration of the purple passion fruit peel extract reduces wheeze and cough and improves shortness of breath in adults with asthma. Nutr Res · PMID 19083404 · DOI	Controlled trial	Adults with asthma, Iran (group size not given in the abstract)	Purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) peel extract, a mixture of bioflavonoids fruit peel 150 mg daily 4 weeks · vs Placebo pills	Wheeze, cough and shortness of breath fell significantly in the peel-extract group (P < .05) but not in the placebo group. Forced vital capacity rose (P < .05); forced expiratory volume in 1 second did not improve significantly. No adverse effects were reported. Symptoms reduced versus baseline in the treated group; no effect sizes or confidence intervals in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Asthma symptoms; spirometry (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second) Limitations: Number of participants not given in the abstract; short (4 weeks); symptoms are self-reported; no stated comparison with usual asthma medicines; one research group; Passiflora edulis, not Passiflora incarnata. Read: abstract
Wohlmuth 2010 Pharmacognosy and chemotypes of passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.). Biol Pharm Bull · PMID 20522969 · DOI	Chemical analysis (HPLC, LC MS, TLC) in-vitro	11 Eleven P. incarnata samples grown in Australia	Dried plant samples unspecified	Two clear chemotypes: one dominated by isovitexin and schaftoside/isoschaftoside (the usual one in the literature), one with a high level of swertisin and little schaftoside/isoschaftoside. The authors advise making medicines from the isovitexin type until the meaning of the difference is known. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: C-glycosyl flavone profile Limitations: Eleven samples from one country. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Xue 2014 Hepatic, gastric, and intestinal first-pass effects of vitexin in rats. Pharm Biol · PMID 24555505 · DOI	Animal pharmacokinetics animal	Rats	Pure vitexin 30 mg/kg (IV, portal, duodenal or stomach) single dose · vs verapamil in one arm	First-pass loss was 5.2% in the liver, 31.3% in the stomach and 94.1% in the intestine, so oral bioavailability is low. Verapamil (P-gp/CYP3A blocker) raised exposure only about 1.13-fold. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Plasma vitexin; first-pass loss Limitations: Pure compound in rats, not passionflower tea or extract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Zampieri 2025 Exploring the Effects of a Calming Herbal Tea Blend on Perioperative Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Med Food · PMID 39514279 · DOI	Controlled trial	210 210 adults waiting for elective surgery in Brazil	Calming tea blend of chamomile, Passiflora incarnata and aniseed unspecified Tea (quantity not in abstract) Before surgery · vs Placebo tea with lemon	No significant difference in anxiety between the calming tea and the placebo tea. The herbal tea was linked to more positive feelings about the operation (P=0.0009). Anxiety: no significant difference; positive feelings: P=0.0009 Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety (DASS-21 questionnaire after surgery) Limitations: Null result on the main outcome. Three-herb tea so passionflower's part is unknown. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Read: abstract
Zanardi 2023 Add-On Treatment with Passiflora incarnata L., herba, during Benzodiazepine Tapering in Patients with Depression and Anxiety: A Real-World Study. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) · PMID 36986524 · DOI	Observational	186 186 outpatients with anxiety or depression in remission, tapering long-term benzodiazepines	Dry extract of Passiflora incarnata herba added to the taper herb 3 months · vs Matched patients with no add-on (93 each)	More patients cut their benzodiazepine dose by half with passiflora than without, at 1 and 3 months (p<0.001). More stopped completely at 1 month (p=0.002) and 3 months (p=0.016). 50% reduction and full stop more common with passiflora Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Change in benzodiazepine dose; 50% dose reduction; stopping completely Limitations: Retrospective chart review, not randomised and not blinded; one centre; patients chose or were given the add-on. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflict of interest Read: abstract
Zhang 2007 Metabolism of flavone C-glucosides and p-coumaric acid from antioxidant of bamboo leaves (AOB) in rats. Br J Nutr · PMID 17313710 · DOI	Animal pharmacokinetics animal	Rats	Bamboo-leaf antioxidant containing orientin, homoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin bamboo leaf (not passionflower) single oral dose (amount not read) 12-24 h	The four flavone C-glucosides were poorly absorbed; more than 50% recovery was found at 12 h and faeces held 21% at 24 h. Some were broken down (sugar removed, ring opened) to small phenolic acids such as phloroglucinol and hydrocaffeic acid. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Plasma, tissue, faeces Limitations: Same four compounds, but from bamboo, not passionflower. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
Zhao 2023 Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of Isovitexin-2''-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (IVG) in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Curr Drug Metab · PMID 37881073 · DOI	Animal pharmacokinetics animal	Rats	Pure isovitexin-2''-O-glucoside (IVG) 5.0 mg/kg intravenous 12 h sampling	Half-life 3.49 +/- 0.99 h; clearance 54.53 +/- 11.90 mL/kg/h; highest tissue levels in liver, kidney and intestine; some found in brain. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Plasma and tissue levels Limitations: Injected, not swallowed; single pure compound. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract
da Cunha 2021 Herbal medicines as anxiolytics prior to third molar surgical extraction. A randomized controlled clinical trial. Clin Oral Investig · PMID 32951121 · DOI	Controlled trial	200 200 volunteers having a lower wisdom tooth removed	Passiflora incarnata (oral) unspecified 500 mg, 60 minutes before surgery Single dose · vs Placebo; Erythrina mulungu 500 mg; midazolam 15 mg	Passiflora had a similar effect to midazolam; placebo and mulungu did not control anxiety. No differences in blood pressure, heart rate or oxygen saturation among groups. Passiflora similar to midazolam and different from placebo on anxiety (numbers not in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety questionnaires; heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation Limitations: Abstract gives no anxiety scores. Single dose in oral surgery only. Funding and conflicts: None stated in abstract Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier as printed in the abstract: ANSI-388.427 Read: abstract
de Queiroz MdoS 2012 Effect of the yellow passion fruit peel flour (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa deg.) in insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Nutr J · PMID 23088514 · DOI	Uncontrolled trial	43 Adults with type 2 diabetes (28 women, 15 men), Brazil	Yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) peel flour fruit peel 30 g daily 2 months	Fasting glucose and glycated haemoglobin were significantly lower after supplementation (P = 0.000 and P = 0.032). HOMA-IR fell (P = 0.005) and HOMA-beta rose (P = 0.000). Insulin values did not change in women. Lower glucose, HbA1c and insulin resistance index versus before; no numeric means or confidence intervals in the abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-beta, glycated haemoglobin Limitations: No control group described in the abstract, so changes could come from other causes; participants kept their usual treatment; 30 g of peel flour is a food-sized amount, not a capsule; Passiflora edulis, not P. incarnata. Read: abstract
s-ema-ar-passiflora-2008 EMA/HMPC assessment report on Passiflora incarnata L., herba (EMEA/HMPC/230961/2006, 15 Nov 2008; now marked superseded) · Source	Authoritative guidance n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text
s-ethnobotany-fritz-maypop Purple Passion Flower / Passiflora incarnata L. (Gayle Fritz), Society for Ethnobotany · Source	Secondary source (ethnobotany essay) n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text
s-gbif-passiflora-incarnata GBIF Backbone: Passiflora incarnata L. (usageKey 2874218) · Source	Reference database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text
s-ncbi-taxonomy-159425 NCBI Taxonomy: Passiflora incarnata (taxid 159425) · Source	Reference database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text

What we do not know yet

What the evidence supports: low-certainty signs of benefit for anxiety, anxiety before surgery, sleep and stress in small, short trials. What is uncertain: reviews of the same studies disagree (Cochrane 2007 says too few trials; a 2018 review was favourable), and no large placebo-controlled trial in generalised anxiety disorder was found.
No human trial of Passiflora incarnata for knee pain, asthma, blood sugar or blood pressure was found; the human trials used passion fruit peel (Passiflora edulis), a different species.
No trial of passionflower alone for depression or menopause symptoms was found.
No long-term trial beyond about 12 weeks for anxiety or sleep was found, and none in children for anxiety or in older adults.
Blends cannot be credited to passionflower, because no blend was tested against its parts.
The ADHD trial could not be read in the original; its details come second-hand from a review.
The serious safety reports (heart rhythm, vasculitis, liver failure with kava) are single cases, and no study measures how often side effects happen.
No controlled study of passionflower with sedatives, alcohol, anesthesia drugs, MAO inhibitors or blood thinners exists; the last two are theories only.
Reproduction, cancer and standard mutation tests are missing (EU regulator), and safety beyond about 8 weeks is unstudied.
The 2025 quality study covers only 11 European products, so how common mislabelled products are is not known.
No human study of how the body absorbs passionflower compounds was found, and how it works in the brain is unsettled.
Amounts and product comparison are not covered yet; ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

How new research is added

New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and are placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any evidence rating, safety wording or dose information. New publications never change ratings automatically.

Lab markers

What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".

Hormonal 1

↕

Saliva cortisol

Mixed results in trials

Cortisol is a stress hormone; saliva samples show how high it is at a moment in time.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A body marker of stress response.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A change in a lab marker is not a clinical benefit. One small trial found it lower, one trial of a blend found no change.

Safety implication

None.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁵⁸	Lower than placebo after surgery with passiflora and with midazolam (p<0.05), no difference between them	30 people, wisdom-tooth removal	Passiflora incarnata, single dose
⁶²	Cortisol response to a stress test did not differ between Ze 185, placebo and no treatment	72 healthy men	Ze 185 (valerian, passionflower, lemon balm, butterbur), 4 days

^{58 62}

Metabolic 3

▼

Fasting blood glucose

Lowered in trials

Blood sugar level after not eating for several hours.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Raised in diabetes; used to track control.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Statistical difference shown; whether this matters for health is unknown because no complications were measured.

Safety implication

Possible low blood sugar if combined with diabetes medicines; not reported in the abstracts.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁹⁹	Significantly lower after supplementation (P = 0.000); values not given in the abstract	43 adults with type 2 diabetes, Brazil	Yellow passion fruit peel flour 30 g/day for 2 months (before vs after)
⁸²	Fell 5.9% with passion fruit albedo flour vs rose 9% with placebo and fell 3.2% with turmeric-piperine (P < 0.05)	89 adults with type 2 diabetes, Brazil	Albedo flour 500 mg three times daily for 120 days

^{99 82}

▼

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)

Lowered in trials

A blood test showing average blood sugar over about 3 months.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

The main long-term marker of diabetes control.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A fall of about 0.8 percentage points is potentially meaningful, but the trials are small and the abstracts give no confidence intervals for it.

Safety implication

See fasting glucose.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁹⁹	Significantly lower after supplementation (P = 0.032)	43 adults with type 2 diabetes	Peel flour 30 g/day for 2 months
⁸²	About 0.8% lower than placebo in both active groups (P < 0.05)	89 adults with type 2 diabetes	Albedo flour 500 mg three times daily for 120 days
⁸¹	Pooled effect 0.32 (CI 0.23 to 0.45) for passion fruit peel flour; measure not described in the abstract	Meta-analysis, 11 studies (both peel flour and turmeric)	Passion fruit peel flour

^{99 82 81}

●

Triglycerides

No clear change in trials

A type of fat in the blood.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Raised levels are linked to heart risk.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

No benefit seen with passion fruit flour in this trial.

Safety implication

None reported.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁸²	+1.8% with passion fruit albedo flour vs -20.8% with turmeric-piperine and -0.09% with placebo	89 adults with type 2 diabetes	Albedo flour 500 mg three times daily for 120 days

⁸²

Other 17

▼

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)

Lowered in trials

A doctor-rated score of anxiety symptoms. Lower is less anxious.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

The standard rating scale in anxiety trials.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

The Euphytose result is a combination product. The oxazepam trial shows equivalence, not superiority, and has no placebo arm.

Safety implication

None.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹³	42.9% had HAM-A under 10 at day 28 vs 25.3% on placebo (P=0.012); day 28 means 12.63 vs 15.2	182 outpatients with adjustment disorder with anxious mood	Euphytose (6-herb combination), 28 days
¹	Both groups improved with no significant difference between passiflora and oxazepam (numbers not in the abstract)	36 outpatients with generalised anxiety disorder	Passiflora liquid extract 45 drops/day vs oxazepam 30 mg/day, 4 weeks

^{13 1}

↕

State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

Mixed results in trials

A questionnaire where people rate how anxious they feel right now (state) and in general (trait). Lower is calmer.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used to measure short-term anxiety around surgery.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Changes are within groups or small; clinically meaningful size is not stated.

Safety implication

None.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁸	Anxiety rose less before spinal anaesthesia than with placebo (p-value not in abstract)	60 patients before spinal anaesthesia	Passiflora incarnata extract, single dose
⁸⁹	State anxiety fell between before and after surgery with passiflora (p<0.05) but not with placebo (p=0.129)	54 patients, wisdom-tooth removal	Passiflora incarnata, single dose
⁶⁹	Collected on the 7th morning; the result is not given in the abstract	41 healthy adults	Passionflower tea, 7 days

^{8 89 69}

▼

Anxiety rating (VAS or numeric scale)

Lowered in trials

A simple 0 to 10 or 0 to 100 line where the patient marks how anxious they are.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Quick way to track pre-procedure anxiety.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Self-rated and single-dose; one trial found no difference.

Safety implication

None.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁶⁶	Lower anxiety than placebo at 10 to 90 minutes (P<0.001), no extra sedation	60 outpatient surgery patients	Passiflora 500 mg once, 90 minutes before surgery
⁵¹	Mean score 12.09 to 8.47 (passionflower), 12.00 to 10.52 (placebo), 11.66 to 11.23 (no treatment); p<0.0001	63 people before gum treatment	Passiflora drops, single dose
⁵⁸	No significant difference between passiflora, midazolam and placebo on anxiety scores (p>0.05)	30 people, wisdom-tooth removal	Passiflora incarnata, single dose

^{66 51 58}

●

Heart rate and blood pressure around surgery

No clear change in trials

Pulse and blood pressure measured before and during dental or surgical procedures, used as body signs of stress.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Anxiety raises heart rate and blood pressure.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Mostly no difference; one higher diastolic reading is noted.

Safety implication

A higher diastolic blood pressure in one small trial; not seen in the others.

Study	Result	People	Product
²⁴	No difference from midazolam in blood pressure, heart rate or oxygen saturation	40 volunteers, wisdom-tooth removal	Passiflora 260 mg vs midazolam 15 mg
²²	Heart rate best controlled with passiflora at one time point (P=0.036)	20 volunteers	Passiflora vs midazolam
⁹⁸	No differences in BP, HR or SpO2 among passiflora, mulungu, midazolam and placebo	200 volunteers	Passiflora 500 mg vs midazolam 15 mg vs mulungu vs placebo
⁵⁸	Diastolic blood pressure higher with passiflora (p<0.05)	30 people	Passiflora incarnata

^{24 22 98 58}

↕

Thinking and reaction tests (digit-symbol, dot test)

Mixed results in trials

Short tests of attention and hand-eye coordination used to see if a drug clouds thinking.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A calming premedication should not slow thinking.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Two trials at 500 mg or an unstated dose showed no impairment; the 1000 mg trial found more.

Safety implication

A higher dose (1000 mg) was linked to more thinking impairment than melatonin.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁶⁶	Psychomotor recovery comparable to placebo	60 outpatient surgery patients	Passiflora 500 mg, single dose
⁸	No difference in psychomotor function from baseline in either group	60 patients	Passiflora extract, single dose
⁷³	Digit-symbol test differed from melatonin before surgery (P=0.04) and at discharge (P=0.007); passiflora group changed significantly (P=0.003)	52 surgery patients	Passiflora 1000 mg vs melatonin 6 mg

^{66 8 73}

▲

Sleep quality rating (sleep diary)

Raised in trials

A daily self-rating of how well you slept.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Sleep quality is what people feel and report.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Self-rated gain of unclear size; the second result is a multi-ingredient product with no control.

Safety implication

None.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁶⁹	Sleep quality better with passionflower tea than placebo tea, t(40)=2.70, p<0.01; the other five diary measures did not differ	41 healthy adults, crossover	Passionflower tea, 1 cup/day for 7 days
⁵⁶	Sleep quality 5.4 to 7.3 out of 10 (p<0.001), no control	40 adults with mild to moderate insomnia	Novanuit (melatonin, B6 and 3 herbs), 2 weeks

^{69 56}

▲

Total sleep time on overnight sleep recording

Raised in trials

Hours or minutes of actual sleep measured in a sleep lab with brain-wave recording (polysomnography).

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

An objective measure of sleep, not dependent on how people feel.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Borderline statistical significance (P=0.049); a gain of this size on one night is small, and sleep efficiency and wake-after-sleep-onset were not better than placebo.

Safety implication

None.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁵⁵	Change in total sleep time 23.05 +/- 54.26 vs -0.16 +/- 53.12, passionflower vs placebo, P=0.049 (unit not given in the abstract)	110 adults with insomnia disorder	Passiflora extract, 2 weeks

⁵⁵

▼

Insomnia Severity Index, Perceived Stress Scale and General Health Questionnaire

Lowered in trials

Short questionnaires on insomnia severity, how stressed you feel, and general psychological health.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Patient-reported measures of sleep trouble and stress.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

No effect sizes in the abstract for the placebo-controlled trial.

Safety implication

None.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁴⁶	Perceived Stress Scale lower and total sleep time higher than placebo; GHQ-12 better on days 15 and 30 (numbers not in the abstract)	65 adults with stress and insomnia	SIVI Passiflora incarnata extract, bedtime for 30 days
⁵⁹	Insomnia Severity Index improved in both NSF-3 and zolpidem groups, no difference between them	91 adults with primary insomnia	NSF-3 (valerian, passiflora, hops) vs zolpidem 10 mg, 2 weeks

^{46 59}

↕

Short Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS)

Mixed results in trials

A patient-rated list of withdrawal symptoms such as aches, sweating and restlessness.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Tracks how bad opioid withdrawal feels.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

One small trial; passiflora was an add-on to clonidine.

Safety implication

Withdrawal needs medical supervision.

Study	Result	People	Product
²	Physical symptoms equal in both groups; mental symptoms significantly better with passiflora added (numbers not in the abstract)	65 outpatients in opioid detoxification	Clonidine plus passiflora 60 drops/day vs clonidine plus placebo, 14 days

▼

Benzodiazepine dose reduction

Lowered in trials

How much the daily benzodiazepine dose (in diazepam-equivalent mg) fell during a taper.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

The practical goal of tapering is a lower dose or stopping.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Retrospective records, not randomised.

Safety implication

Tapering needs medical supervision.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁹⁵	More 50% dose reductions and more complete stops with passiflora (1 month p<0.001 and p=0.002; 3 months p<0.001 and p=0.016)	186 outpatients, 93 with and 93 without passiflora	Passiflora incarnata herba dry extract, 3 months
¹⁹	Passiflora p<0.001 (effect size 0.128) and CBT p=0.005 (effect size 0.032) predicted bigger dose cuts; 400 to 600 mg cut more than 200 mg	Same 186 outpatients	Passiflora dry extract with or without CBT, 3 months
¹⁸	Reported the effect was sustained at 12 months, no rebound or withdrawal when passiflora stopped (no numbers in abstract)	Follow-up of the same patients	Passiflora dry extract

^{95 19 18}

▼

ADHD Rating Scales (parent and teacher)

Lowered in trials

Questionnaires where parents and teachers score a child's attention and hyperactivity symptoms.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

The usual way to track ADHD symptoms.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Equivalence to a drug in one small trial with no placebo; the original paper was not read.

Safety implication

Appetite loss and nervousness more common with methylphenidate in this trial, as reported in the review.

Study	Result	People	Product
³	Both groups improved; no significant difference between passiflora and methylphenidate (reported second-hand, numbers not seen)	34 children and adolescents with ADHD	Passiflora tablets vs methylphenidate, 8 weeks

^{3 42}

▲

Resilience scale (RS-13) and quality of life (EQ-VAS)

Raised in trials

RS-13 scores how well a person copes with stress; EQ-VAS is a 0 to 100 self-rating of overall health.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Shows whether people feel better able to cope and better overall.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Large before-and-after change, but with no control group it cannot be assigned to the herb.

Safety implication

Three mild cases of tiredness.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁴¹	RS-13 52.1 to 67.7 and EQ-VAS 47.9 to 75.0 after 12 weeks (both p<0.001); no control group	Adults with nervous restlessness	Dry ethanolic passionflower extract, 12 weeks

⁴¹

▼

Kupperman Index (menopause symptoms)

Lowered in trials

A score of menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep trouble and mood.

Not enough evidence

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Standard tool for menopause symptom burden.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Multi-ingredient product with no control group.

Safety implication

None reported in the abstract.

Study	Result	People	Product
²¹	Total 35 to 21 at 3 months (p<0.05) and 18 at 6 months (p<0.01), no control group	60 perimenopausal women with hot flashes	Zemiar (equol, resveratrol, quercetin, passiflora), 6 months

²¹

●

DASS-21 (depression, anxiety and stress scale)

No clear change in trials

A 21-item self-report questionnaire of depression, anxiety and stress.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used to compare anxiety before surgery.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Null result on the main outcome in a three-herb tea.

Safety implication

None.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁹⁴	No significant difference in anxiety between the calming tea and placebo tea; positive feelings about surgery higher with the herbal tea (P=0.0009)	210 adults before elective surgery	Chamomile, passionflower and aniseed tea

⁹⁴

▼

WOMAC osteoarthritis score

Lowered in trials

A questionnaire where people rate knee pain, stiffness and difficulty with daily tasks; lower is better.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

The standard way to track osteoarthritis symptoms.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

It is a self-reported score from one small trial, so it shows how people felt, not joint change.

Safety implication

The abstract reports no safety findings.

Study	Result	People	Product
³⁶	Total score 19.2% lower, pain 18.6%, stiffness 18%, function 19.6% lower at 60 days; placebo scores rose	33 adults with knee osteoarthritis, Iran	Purple passion fruit peel extract 150 mg/day for 2 months vs placebo

³⁶

▲

Forced vital capacity (FVC)

Raised in trials

The largest amount of air a person can blow out after a deep breath, measured by spirometry.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Shows how much air the lungs can move; low in some asthma.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

The main asthma test (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) did not improve, so the lung-function signal is mixed.

Safety implication

No adverse effects reported in the abstract.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁹¹	Increased significantly (P < .05); placebo no change. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second did not improve significantly.	Adults with asthma, Iran (n not given in the abstract)	Purple passion fruit peel extract 150 mg/day for 4 weeks vs placebo

⁹¹

↕

Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)

Mixed results in trials

A calculation from fasting glucose and insulin that estimates how resistant the body is to insulin.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used to track insulin sensitivity.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Uncontrolled in one study; the controlled trial does not report a passion fruit result in the abstract.

Safety implication

None reported.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁹⁹	Fell (P = 0.005); HOMA-beta rose (P = 0.000); insulin unchanged in women	43 adults with type 2 diabetes	Peel flour 30 g/day for 2 months
⁸²	Fell most with turmeric-piperine (-9.4%); the passion fruit flour result is not given in the abstract	89 adults with type 2 diabetes	Albedo flour 500 mg three times daily for 120 days

^{99 82}

Safety

What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.

Main points to know 7

Passionflower looks well tolerated in short studies, but safety data are thin. NCCIH says passionflower is likely safe as a food flavouring, may be safe as a tea for up to 7 nights, and as a daily extract may be safe for up to 8 weeks. A 2020 systematic review of 9 randomised trials lasting 1 to 30 days found no adverse effects, and single-dose trials before surgery saw no extra sedation. The EU regulator, however, says conventional clinical safety data are virtually absent and that reproductive, genotoxicity and cancer tests were not done. So the picture is: few and short trials, no clear harm signal in them, but large gaps. Systematic review ^{67 47 35 66 8}
Drowsiness, dizziness and confusion are the expected side effects, and driving can be affected. NCCIH names drowsiness, dizziness and confusion. The EU monograph warns that passionflower may impair driving and operating machines and says affected people should not drive. In trials with a single dose before surgery, thinking and movement tests were not worse than with placebo, so the effect varies by person. Authoritative guidance ^{67 34 66 8}
A few serious reactions have been reported, each in single cases. One woman had severe nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, a prolonged QT interval and runs of ventricular tachycardia after taking passionflower at normal doses and needed hospital monitoring (2000). One person had hypersensitivity vasculitis linked to a product containing Passiflora extract (1993). The EU regulator says cause could not be judged for the first case and gives no rate for either. These are signals to take seriously, not proof of cause or of how often they happen. Case report ^{38 79 35}
Do not combine casually with sedatives, alcohol or anesthesia. A man on lorazepam who also took valerian and passionflower had shaking, dizziness and muscle fatigue; the authors suspect added effects. NCCIH says passionflower might interact with some anesthesia drugs. The EU assessment advises against combining with benzodiazepines. These warnings rest on theory plus one case; no controlled interaction study exists. Case report ^{20 67 35}
Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and in young children. NCCIH says not to use it in pregnancy because it may cause uterine contractions; the EU monograph says safety is not established and advises against use in pregnancy and breastfeeding and under age 12. The uterine claim comes without cited data in the sources we read, so treat it as a precaution. Authoritative guidance ^{67 34}
The liver looks like a small concern on current evidence. A web summary of the NIH LiverTox entry (full page not readable) says passionflower has not been linked to liver enzyme rises or clinically apparent liver injury. A fatal liver failure was reported with a kava-plus-passionflower product, but kava is the known liver risk. Treat the liver as not a documented problem, with limited data. Authoritative guidance ^{68 44}
Product quality is a real issue. In a 2025 test of 11 European products, five of six food supplements failed identity or flavone-content specifications, while all registered herbal medicines conformed. The authors say this suggests food fraud in some supplements. Choose products that name Passiflora incarnata and the plant part. Laboratory research ¹⁴

Side effects 10

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
Drowsiness or sleepiness NCCIH lists drowsiness; the EU monograph says it may impair driving. In the dental trial, drowsiness was more common with midazolam than with passionflower. No percentage for passionflower alone was found.	Not established	mild Reversible (expected to wear off)	Authoritative guidance ^{67 34 22}
Dizziness Listed by NCCIH. Also reported in a patient taking lorazepam plus valerian and passionflower.	Not established	mild Reversible	Authoritative guidance ^{67 22 20}
Confusion Listed by NCCIH as a possible side effect. We found no trial or case report that measured it.	Not established	mild to moderate Not described	Authoritative guidance ⁶⁷
No adverse effects seen in most short trials A 2020 systematic review of 9 trials (1 to 30 days) found no adverse effects, including memory loss. Single pre-surgery doses did not increase sedation or psychomotor impairment in two placebo-controlled trials. Short, small trials cannot rule out rarer or longer-term reactions.	Not established	not applicable Not applicable	Systematic review ^{47 46 8 66 18}
Nausea and vomiting Severe in the single hospital case. The EU assessment also lists nausea among reports from unregistered single-herb products in Ireland; cause was not established.	Not established	mild to severe Resolved in the one detailed case with fluids	Case report ^{38 35}
Fast or abnormal heart rhythm (prolonged QT, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia) One 34-year-old woman after use at usual doses. The EU regulator says cause cannot be judged because data were incomplete. Tachycardia, arrhythmia and ventricular fibrillation were also listed in Irish reports for products where other medicines were taken; none proven linked.	Not established	serious Not stated in the abstract; patient needed hospital monitoring	Case report ^{38 35}
Inflammation of small blood vessels (hypersensitivity vasculitis) A single 1993 case with a preparation containing Passiflora extract. Only the title was available to us; the EU regulator describes it as one case of hypersensitivity vasculitis.	Not established	serious Not available	Case report ^{79 35}
Allergic reaction The EU assessment says hypersensitivity is possible in very rare cases (taken from ESCOP 2003, not a counted rate). Hypersensitivity is an EU contraindication. A pharmacy worker developed occupational asthma and rhinitis to a different species (Passiflora alata).	Not established	variable Not described	Authoritative guidance ^{34 35 40}
Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) Reported in Irish spontaneous reports for unregistered single-herb products, as listed in the EU assessment. No details or proof of cause were seen.	Not established	not stated Not stated	Case series ³⁵
Higher diastolic blood pressure around surgery Seen in the passionflower group of a 30-person dental trial (p<0.05). Other trials found no blood pressure difference. Probably chance or a minor signal; unexplained.	Not established	mild Not stated	Controlled trial ⁵⁸

Liver

We found no confirmed case of liver injury from passionflower alone. A web-search summary of the opening of NIH's LiverTox entry (dated 2020; the full page could not be read because it blocks automated access) says passionflower has not been linked to serum enzyme elevations or clinically apparent liver injury. The only liver case found is a 2003 Australian report of acute liver failure and death with a preparation containing kava and passionflower; kava, not passionflower, is the recognised liver risk, and the abstract does not blame passionflower. The EU assessment mentions 'hepatic function abnormal' among Irish spontaneous reports for single-herb products, but other medicines were being taken and cause was not established. Animal tests (rats, 600 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks) showed no toxic signs. This is a safety question, not a benefit, and the data are thin. ^{68 44 35}

How often. No source we read gives a rate of liver injury for passionflower users. Do not quote a percentage.

Monitoring. No guideline recommending routine liver tests for passionflower users was found.

Gow 2003 (1 patients). Acute liver failure leading to death. Other possible causes: Preparation contained kava (Piper methysticum), a known cause of serious liver injury, as well as passionflower. ⁴⁴
Irish spontaneous reports, via EU assessment report 2014. 'Hepatic function abnormal' listed among events reported for unregistered products with passionflower as the single active ingredient. Other possible causes: Other medicines noted; cause not established; numbers and details not given. ³⁵

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Passionflower supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 7

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Benzodiazepines (for example lorazepam, diazepam, alprazolam) prescription	Both can calm the brain through the GABA system, so effects might add up. Lab work suggests passionflower acts on GABA-type receptors, but this is not settled.	One case report: a man on lorazepam who also took valerian and passionflower had hand shaking, dizziness, throbbing and muscle fatigue. Two herbs were involved. The EU assessment says no clinical data exist for passionflower alone but advises against combining with synthetic sedatives. Trials compared passionflower with benzodiazepines but did not give them together, except a real-world tapering report.	Case report Very low certainty ^{20 35 18}	Tell your prescriber before combining. Do not use it to replace or stop a benzodiazepine on your own; stopping some benzodiazepines suddenly can be dangerous.
Other sedating medicines (sleeping pills such as zolpidem, opioid pain medicines, sedating antihistamines, anti-seizure medicines, anti-anxiety medicines) prescription	Added sleepiness (pharmacological theory).	No study of passionflower with these medicines was found. The advice rests on the herb's sedating effect and on the benzodiazepine case.	Pharmacological theory Very low certainty ^{67 34 35}	Ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Take extra care with driving and with alcohol.
Anesthesia and medicines used around surgery prescription	May deepen sedation or slow the nervous system (NCCIH). No mechanism study was found.	NCCIH says passionflower might interact with some anesthesia drugs and advises talking to your provider if taking it within 2 weeks of surgery. Trials of a single pre-surgery dose (60 people each) saw no extra sedation or psychomotor impairment, but they did not test full anesthesia drug regimens.	Authoritative guidance Low certainty ^{67 66 8}	Tell your surgeon and anesthetist about passionflower, including teas and blends, well before any operation. They may ask you to stop it ahead of time.
Alcohol otc	Both can cause drowsiness (theory).	No alcohol interaction study was found. Many liquid extracts and tinctures also contain alcohol.	Pharmacological theory Very low certainty ^{34 67}	Avoid combining, especially before driving or at bedtime. People who avoid alcohol should check whether a liquid extract contains it (the EU monograph requires ethanol labelling).
Other sedating herbs (valerian, kava, hops, lemon balm, chamomile blends) supplement	Added sedation (theory); kava carries its own liver warning.	Many products mix passionflower with other herbs. The lorazepam case involved valerian. A fatal liver failure was reported with a kava-plus-passionflower product, but kava is the recognised liver risk and the report does not blame passionflower.	Case report Very low certainty ^{20 44 35}	Read labels on sleep blends and avoid stacking several sedating herbs. Avoid kava-containing products unless a doctor agrees.
MAO inhibitor antidepressants (for example phenelzine, tranylcypromine) and other serotonin-raising medicines prescription	Passionflower contains harman-type (beta-carboline) alkaloids in traces. Such alkaloids can block the enzyme MAO in lab tests, so a theory exists. But the EU assessment says these alkaloids are undetectable in most commercial materials, and a 1997 mouse study only tested isolated alkaloids and extracts for behaviour.	No human report or study of a passionflower and MAOI interaction was found. This is theory only. A 2026 narrative review lists serotonin syndrome as a risk for herbal supplements as a group; it does not give a passionflower case.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ^{35 80 23}	If you take an MAOI or several antidepressants, ask your prescriber before using passionflower. Do not assume it is dangerous or harmless: the evidence is missing.
Blood thinners (warfarin and similar) and antiplatelet medicines prescription	Some interaction lists raise a theoretical effect on clotting. We could not verify any mechanism for passionflower.	No case report or study of passionflower with warfarin was found, and the EU monograph says no interactions have been reported. One EU assessment source lists thrombocytopenia (low platelets) in unproven spontaneous reports and one vasculitis case, which is a separate issue.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ^{34 35}	If you take a blood thinner, mention passionflower to your prescriber. Report unusual bruising or bleeding.

Who should check first 10

Situation	Advice	Evidence
Allergy to passionflower	Do not use. The EU monograph lists hypersensitivity to the active substance as the only contraindication.	Authoritative guidance ³⁴
Pregnancy	Avoid. NCCIH says passionflower should not be used in pregnancy because it may cause uterine contractions and possibly other problems. The EU monograph says safety in pregnancy has not been established and use is not recommended. We found no human study of uterine effects and no reports of harm in the EU assessment. The uterine-stimulant concern is a caution without data in the sources we read. A rat study (summary only) found no change in mothers' weight, reproduction or liver markers at 30 or 300 mg/kg, which does not settle human safety.	Authoritative guidance ^{67 34 35 71}
Breastfeeding	Avoid unless a clinician agrees. NCCIH says little is known; the EU monograph does not recommend use. We could not find a drugs-and-lactation database (LactMed) entry for passionflower.	Authoritative guidance ^{67 34}
Children under 12	Not recommended without medical advice because adequate data are lacking (EU monograph).	Authoritative guidance ³⁴
Driving, machinery and other tasks needing alertness	The EU monograph says passionflower may impair the ability to drive and use machines and that affected patients should not drive. Single-dose surgical trials found no psychomotor impairment, but the label advice remains. Wait to see how you react before driving.	Authoritative guidance ^{34 35 66 8}
Upcoming surgery or anesthesia	Tell the surgical team. NCCIH advises talking to a provider if you take it within 2 weeks of surgery and says to avoid using it before surgery unless a provider recommends it.	Authoritative guidance ⁶⁷
Taking benzodiazepines, other sedatives or MAOI antidepressants	Ask your prescriber first (see the interactions list).	Case report ^{20 35}
Heart rhythm problems, long QT, or medicines that prolong QT	Take extra care and ask a doctor. This is a precaution from one case report of prolonged QT and ventricular tachycardia; cause was not proven and no study tested it.	Case report ^{38 35}
History of vasculitis or unexplained rash, bruising or fever with a herbal product	Avoid and ask a doctor, because of one vasculitis case linked to a product containing Passiflora extract.	Case report ^{79 35}
Symptoms lasting more than 2 weeks	See a doctor or qualified practitioner if stress or sleep problems last longer than 2 weeks of use or get worse (EU monograph).	Authoritative guidance ³⁴

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. Lab and animal tests show low acute toxicity, and no overdose has been reported. These tests do not cover pregnancy, cancer or long-term use in people.

Animal. EU assessment: a dry hydroalcoholic extract had an oral LD50 above 15 g/kg in mice and rats. Rats given 600 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks showed no toxic symptoms, and a 21-day study at 5 g/kg dried herb equivalent showed no change in weight, temperature or coordination. No genotoxicity in one fungus-based test. No carcinogenicity, reproductive or developmental studies exist, and standard Ames test data are missing. Maltol, a constituent, has LD50 values around 820 mg/kg when injected in mice.

Human doses studied. NCCIH describes tea for up to 7 nights and a daily extract for up to 8 weeks as possibly safe. Doses are not given here; ask a pharmacist or doctor about amounts.

High dose or long term signals. The EU monograph says no case of overdose has been reported, but the EU assessment says excessive doses may cause sedation (citing a handbook). No long-term (beyond 8 weeks) safety trial was found.

Overdose response. No overdose cases were found. If someone is very drowsy, hard to wake, has a racing or irregular heartbeat, or has fainted after taking a lot, seek urgent medical help.

Genotoxicity. Only one old test in a fungus (Aspergillus nidulans) was negative, per the EU assessment. EU regulators say standard bacterial (Ames) mutation tests are missing.

Quality is the main contamination issue. A 2025 analysis found many supplements did not match passionflower in identity or content. Natural compounds of concern are traces of a cyanogenic glycoside (gynocardin) and of harman-type alkaloids, but the EU regulator says the alkaloids are undetectable in most commercial materials. No large survey of metals or pesticides in passionflower products was found.

Wrong or weak material in supplements. In 11 European products, five food supplements failed identity checks (fingerprinting), one contained only hyperoside and lacked other passionflower compounds, and five of six supplements did not meet the specified flavone content, which the authors say suggests food fraud. All five registered herbal medicines met the specification. ¹⁴

Cyanogenic glycosides (cyanide-releasing plant compounds). Gynocardin, a cyanogenic glycoside, is listed by the EU assessment as a constituent of Passiflora incarnata, and was first isolated from a Passiflora species in 1984. Other Passiflora species such as passion fruit (P. edulis) contain cyanogens including prunasin in leaf, stem and fruit. We found no poisoning report from P. incarnata products or amounts at which it matters. Do not use home-made preparations from other Passiflora species or large amounts of fresh leaves and stems. ^{35 83 77}

Harman-type (beta-carboline) alkaloids. Harman, harmol and harmalol may be present in traces but are undetectable in most commercial materials (EU assessment, citing ESCOP 2003). A 1997 mouse study tested the isolated alkaloids alongside extracts. The significance for MAOI interactions is unknown. ^{35 80}

Look-alike species. Many Passiflora species exist. The authentic medicinal plant is Passiflora incarnata (maypop). Other species have different chemistry (for example cyanogens in P. edulis), and a P. alata allergy case exists. We found no study measuring how often products are mislabelled by species. ^{77 40}

Metals, pesticides, microbes. No data found for passionflower products specifically.

Body	Action	Date
European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) (European Union)	Traditional-use herbal monograph for Passiflora incarnata herba: relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep, based on long use only. Contraindicated in hypersensitivity. Not recommended under 12 and in pregnancy and lactation. May impair driving. No interactions or undesirable effects reported; no overdose cases. Reproductive, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity tests not done. See a doctor if symptoms last over 2 weeks. source	2014-03-25
NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) (United States)	Herbs at a Glance: likely safe as a food flavouring; possibly safe as tea up to 7 nights and as extract up to 8 weeks; side effects drowsiness, dizziness, confusion; possible interaction with anesthesia drugs; do not use in pregnancy; little known in breastfeeding. source	2025-04
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (21 CFR 172.510) (United States)	Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata L) appears in the list of natural flavoring substances that may be safely used in food, with no stated limitation. This is a food-flavouring listing. Passionflower supplements are sold as dietary supplements, which the FDA does not approve before sale. We did not find an FDA GRAS notice for passionflower; this was not searched exhaustively. source

When to get medical help

Fast, pounding or irregular heartbeat, fainting, or chest pain after taking passionflower: stop it and seek emergency care.
Severe or repeated vomiting with marked drowsiness: stop and get medical care the same day (this combination, with heart rhythm problems, was reported in one hospital case).
Purple or red spots on the skin, a spreading rash with fever, joint pain or blood in the urine: stop and see a doctor promptly (possible vasculitis reaction, reported once).
Swelling of the face or throat, wheezing, hives or trouble breathing: emergency care for a possible allergic reaction.
Very hard to wake, confused, or unable to stay awake after combining passionflower with sedatives, sleeping pills or alcohol: seek urgent help.
Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or pale stools: stop and get medical care the same day, especially with kava-containing products.
If you are or might be pregnant, stop and ask your midwife or doctor; call urgently for cramps, bleeding or contractions.

Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.

General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does passionflower help anxiety?

Possibly, with low certainty. One small 4-week trial of 36 people found a liquid extract about as good as the drug oxazepam, and single doses before surgery or dental work lowered anxiety in several small trials. But a 2007 Cochrane review found too few trials to draw a conclusion, while a 2018 review called the evidence high quality, and both rest on the same few studies. If anxiety is bothering you, talk to a doctor.

^{1 65 74 47 66 8}

Does passionflower help you sleep?

Maybe a little, with low certainty. A week of tea gave healthy adults slightly better self-rated sleep quality than placebo tea, and a 2-week trial in 110 adults with insomnia found more total sleep time on overnight recording than placebo. Other sleep measures did not beat placebo, effects were small, and the trials were short.

^{69 55 46}

Is passionflower as good as a benzodiazepine?

We cannot say. One small pilot of 36 people found a liquid extract and oxazepam both worked and did not differ at 4 weeks, but oxazepam worked faster, and there was no placebo group. A Cochrane review said the trials are too few to conclude. Never stop or replace a benzodiazepine on your own, because stopping suddenly can be dangerous.

^{1 65 18}

What are the side effects of passionflower?

The expected ones are drowsiness, dizziness and confusion. Most short trials saw no adverse effects. A few serious reports exist as single cases only: a prolonged QT interval with ventricular tachycardia in one woman, hypersensitivity vasculitis in one person, and a fatal liver failure with a kava and passionflower product, where kava is the known liver risk. Cause was not proven in any of them and no rate is known. Short, small trials cannot rule out rarer or longer-term problems.

^{67 47 38 79 44 35}

Can I take passionflower with sedatives or alcohol?

Take care and ask your prescriber or pharmacist first. Both passionflower and sedatives can cause drowsiness, so effects might add up. One man on lorazepam who also took valerian and passionflower had shaking, dizziness and muscle fatigue. The EU assessment advises against combining it with benzodiazepines, and NCCIH says it might interact with some anesthesia drugs. No controlled interaction study exists. Avoid alcohol with it, and note that some liquid extracts contain alcohol.

^{20 67 35}

Is it safe to drive after taking passionflower?

Wait to see how you react. The EU monograph says it may impair the ability to drive or use machines and that affected people should not drive. In two trials of a single dose before surgery, thinking and movement tests were not worse than with placebo, so the effect varies by person.

^{34 66 8}

Is passionflower safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Avoid it. NCCIH says not to use it in pregnancy because it may cause uterine contractions, and the EU monograph says safety is not established and use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended. We found no human study of this, so it is a precaution, not a proven harm. The EU monograph also does not recommend it under age 12 without medical advice.

^{67 34 35}

Which species is passionflower herb?

Passiflora incarnata, also called maypop or purple passionflower. Passion fruit is a different species, Passiflora edulis. Others such as Passiflora alata and Passiflora caerulea are different plants too. Look for Passiflora incarnata and the plant part on a label.

^{102 26 61}

Is tea or a supplement better?

We cannot say which is better. Tea, tinctures and extracts are different products, and trial results for one do not carry over to another. Tea was tested in healthy adults for a week and extracts in other trials. Quality is a real issue: in a 2025 test of 11 European products, five of six food supplements failed identity or flavone-content checks, while all registered herbal medicines passed. For amounts, ask a doctor or pharmacist.

^{69 55 14}

Who should avoid passionflower?

Avoid it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, allergic to it, or under 12 without medical advice. Ask a doctor first if you take benzodiazepines, other sedatives, MAO inhibitor antidepressants or blood thinners, if you have heart rhythm problems or long QT, or if you have surgery coming up (tell the surgical team; NCCIH advises talking to a provider if you take it within 2 weeks of surgery). The MAO inhibitor and blood thinner ideas are theory with insufficient evidence.

^{34 67 20 38 35}

How long did the studies last?

Mostly short. Single doses before surgery, a week of tea, 2 weeks for the insomnia and opioid trials, 4 weeks for the anxiety trial, 30 days to 12 weeks in stress studies, and up to 12 months in the benzodiazepine tapering follow-up. NCCIH says tea may be safe for up to 7 nights and an extract for up to 8 weeks. Nothing longer has been tested, so long-term safety is unknown.

^{1 69 55 2 41 18 67}

What is the difference between passionflower and passion fruit?

They are different species. Passionflower herb is Passiflora incarnata, used as a calming herb. Passion fruit is Passiflora edulis, the fruit you buy. Human trials of passion fruit peel for knee pain, asthma and blood sugar do not apply to passionflower herb, and passion fruit contains plant compounds that can release cyanide in the lab. Do not make home preparations from other Passiflora species.

^{26 36 91 99 83}

Editorial transparency

Written by: AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
Medical review: None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
First published: 2026-10-24
Last substantive update: 2026-10-24
How we research: We searched PubMed, NIH NCCIH, the EU herbal monograph and assessment report and other regulators' pages, opened each source and recorded the study design, people, product and result as reported. Abstracts only for most studies; the NCCIH page and the EU monograph and assessment texts were read. Some pages (the NIH LiverTox entry, a LactMed entry, the German Commission E and WHO monographs) could not be read and are marked not verified or left out, and the ADHD trial is known only from a review. No study is cited that we could not verify.
How we rate evidence: See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
Independence: No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown. If one is added later it will be labelled and kept apart from the evidence.

Sources 103

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Vazirian M, et al.. Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam.. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001. PMID 11679026. DOI 10.1046/j.1365-2710.2001.00367.x. (abstract)
Akhondzadeh S, Kashani L, Mobaseri M, et al.. Passionflower in the treatment of opiates withdrawal: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001. PMID 11679027. DOI 10.1046/j.1365-2710.2001.00366.x. (abstract)
Akhondzadeh S, Mohammadi MR, Momeni F. Passiflora incarnata in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Therapy 2005;2:609-614 (reference as printed in Golsorkhi 2023). 2005. (summary-only)
Anheyer D, Lauche R, Schumann D, et al.. Herbal medicines in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic review.. Complement Ther Med. 2017. PMID 28137522. DOI 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.11.004. (abstract)
Aoyagi N, Kimura R, Murata T.. Studies on passiflora incarnata dry extract. I. Isolation of maltol and pharmacological action of maltol and ethyl maltol.. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1974. PMID 4421168. DOI 10.1248/cpb.22.1008. (citation-only)
Appel K, Rose T, Fiebich B, et al.. Modulation of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system by Passiflora incarnata L.. Phytother Res. 2011. PMID 21089181. DOI 10.1002/ptr.3352. (abstract)
Appel K, Schwarzensteiner I, Zimmermann C et al.. A Passiflora incarnata extract exerts multi-target effects on selected sleep-related receptors.. J Ethnopharmacol. 2027. PMID 42462921. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2026.122198. (abstract)
Aslanargun P, Cuvas O, Dikmen B, et al.. Passiflora incarnata Linneaus as an anxiolytic before spinal anesthesia.. J Anesth. 2012. PMID 22048283. DOI 10.1007/s00540-011-1265-6. (abstract)
Avula B, Wang YH, Rumalla CS et al.. Simultaneous determination of alkaloids and flavonoids from aerial parts of Passiflora species and dietary supplements using UPLC-UV-MS and HPTLC.. Nat Prod Commun. 2012. PMID 23074901. (abstract)
Bacchi AD, Ponte B, Vieira ML et al.. Developmental exposure to Passiflora incarnata induces behavioural alterations in the male progeny.. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2013. PMID 22958428. DOI 10.1071/RD11307. (abstract)
Barros TB, Wiens A, Reis TMD. Clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes of Passiflora alata Curtis use in participants with mild to moderate anxiety: a non-randomized experimental study.. Daru. 2026. PMID 41636991. DOI 10.1007/s40199-026-00591-4. (abstract)
Bennati E.. [Quantitative determination of harmane and harmine in the extract of Passiflora incarnata].. Boll Chim Farm. 1971. PMID 5143366. (citation-only)
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. PMID 9107558. DOI 10.1111/j.1472-8206.1997.tb00179.x. (abstract)
Brouns A, Lechtenberg M, Hensel A. Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata): Quality of Food Supplements Versus Registered Herbal Medicinal Products.. Planta Med. 2025. PMID 40245939. DOI 10.1055/a-2591-3765. (abstract)
Brown E, Hurd NS, McCall S et al.. Evaluation of the anxiolytic effects of chrysin, a Passiflora incarnata extract, in the laboratory rat.. AANA J. 2007. PMID 17966676. (abstract)
Cabral B, Bortolin RH, Goncalves TAF, et al.. Hypoglycemic and Vasorelaxant Effect of Passiflora edulis Fruit Peel By-Product.. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2021. PMID 34581915. DOI 10.1007/s11130-021-00921-8. (abstract)
Cabral B, Goncalves TAF, Abreu LS, et al.. Cardiovascular Effects Induced by Fruit Peels from Passiflora edulis in Hypertensive Rats and Fingerprint Analysis by HPLC-ESI-MSn spectrometry.. Planta Med. 2022. PMID 34344056. DOI 10.1055/a-1385-8863. (abstract)
Carminati M, Tondello M, Zanardi R. Passiflora incarnata L., herba, in benzodiazepine tapering: long-term safety and efficacy in a real-world setting.. Front Psychiatry. 2024. PMID 39429529. DOI 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1471083. (abstract)
Carminati M, Tondello M, Zappia M, et al.. Synergistic Effect of Passiflora incarnata L., Herba and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Management of Benzodiazepine Misuse.. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2026. PMID 41599739. DOI 10.3390/ph19010141. (abstract)
Carrasco MC, Vallejo JR, Pardo-de-Santayana M, et al.. Interactions of Valeriana officinalis L. and Passiflora incarnata L. in a patient treated with lorazepam.. Phytother Res. 2009. PMID 19441067. DOI 10.1002/ptr.2847. (abstract)
Caruso S, Cianci S, Cariola M, et al.. Effects of nutraceuticals on quality of life and sexual function of perimenopausal women.. J Endocrinol Invest. 2017. PMID 27300032. DOI 10.1007/s40618-016-0500-2. (abstract)
Christoffoli MT, Bachesk AB, Farah GJ, et al.. 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.. Quintessence Int. 2021. PMID 34076379. DOI 10.3290/j.qi.b1492199. (abstract)
Căuș MN, Lupoae M, Chițescu CL. Efficacy and Safety of Herbal Supplements with Anxiolytic, Antidepressant, and Sedative Action: A Review of Clinical Data and Toxicological Risks.. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2026. PMID 41901246. DOI 10.3390/ph19030399. (abstract)
Dantas LP, de Oliveira-Ribeiro A, de Almeida-Souza LM, et al.. Effects of passiflora incarnata and midazolam for control of anxiety in patients undergoing dental extraction.. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2017. PMID 27918731. DOI 10.4317/medoral.21140. (abstract)
Dhawan K, Kumar S, Sharma A.. Anxiolytic activity of aerial and underground parts of Passiflora incarnata.. Fitoterapia. 2001. PMID 11731118. DOI 10.1016/s0367-326x(01)00322-7. (abstract)
Dhawan K, Kumar R, Kumar S et al.. Correct Identification of Passiflora incarnata Linn., a Promising Herbal Anxiolytic and Sedative.. J Med Food. 2001. PMID 12639407. DOI 10.1089/109662001753165710. (abstract)
Dhawan K, Sharma A.. Antitussive activity of the methanol extract of Passiflora incarnata leaves.. Fitoterapia. 2002. PMID 12165335. DOI 10.1016/s0367-326x(02)00116-8. (abstract)
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. PMID 12165186. DOI 10.1089/10755530260127970. (abstract)
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. PMID 12935433. (abstract)
Dhawan K, Dhawan S, Sharma A.. Passiflora: a review update.. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004. PMID 15261959. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2004.02.023. (abstract)
Dhawan K.. Drug/substance reversal effects of a novel tri-substituted benzoflavone moiety (BZF) isolated from Passiflora incarnata Linn.--a brief perspective.. Addict Biol. 2003. PMID 14690874. DOI 10.1080/13556210310001646385. (abstract)
Dos Reis Izolan L, da Silva DM, Oliveira HBL, et al.. Sintocalmy, a Passiflora incarnata Based Herbal, Attenuates Morphine Withdrawal in Mice.. Neurochem Res. 2021. PMID 33544325. DOI 10.1007/s11064-021-03237-w. (abstract)
Elsas SM, Rossi DJ, Raber J et al.. Passiflora incarnata L. (Passionflower) extracts elicit GABA currents in hippocampal neurons in vitro, and show anxiogenic and anticonvulsant effects in vivo, varying with extraction method.. Phytomedicine. 2010. PMID 20382514. DOI 10.1016/j.phymed.2010.03.002. (abstract)
European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Community herbal monograph on Passiflora incarnata L., herba (EMA/HMPC/669740/2013). EMA herbal monograph (final, adopted 25 March 2014). 2014. (full-text)
European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Assessment report on Passiflora incarnata L., herba (EMA/HMPC/669738/2013). EMA assessment report (final, 25 March 2014). 2014. (full-text)
Farid R, Rezaieyazdi Z, Mirfeizi Z, et al.. Oral intake of purple passion fruit peel extract reduces pain and stiffness and improves physical function in adult patients with knee osteoarthritis.. Nutr Res. 2010. PMID 20934601. DOI 10.1016/j.nutres.2010.08.010. (abstract)
Faustino TT, Almeida RB, Andreatini R. [Medicinal plants for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a review of controlled clinical studies].. Braz J Psychiatry. 2010. PMID 21308265. DOI 10.1590/s1516-44462010005000026. (abstract)
Fisher AA, Purcell P, Le Couteur DG. Toxicity of Passiflora incarnata L.. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2000. PMID 10696928. DOI 10.1081/clt-100100919. (abstract)
Fonseca AMA, de Paula do Nascimento R, Bellinazzi L, et al.. Dietary intervention with purple passion fruit peel in asthma: insights into Th2-mediated responses in an ovalbumin-induced murine model.. Food Res Int. 2026. PMID 42270229. DOI 10.1016/j.foodres.2026.119503. (abstract)
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. PMID 9396980. DOI 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)63042-6. (abstract)
Gibbert J, Kreimendahl F, Lebert J, et al.. [Improvement of Stress Resistance and Quality of Life of Adults with Nervous Restlessness after Treatment with a Passion Flower Dry Extract].. Complement Med Res. 2017. PMID 28407638. DOI 10.1159/000464342. (abstract)
Golsorkhi H, Qorbani M, Sabbaghzadegan S, et al.. Herbal medicines in the treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): An updated systematic review of clinical trials.. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2023. PMID 37663386. DOI 10.22038/AJP.2022.21115. (abstract)
Goss MJ, Nunes MLO, Machado ID, et al.. Peel flour of Passiflora edulis Var. Flavicarpa supplementation prevents the insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis induced by low-fructose-diet in young rats.. Biomed Pharmacother. 2018. PMID 29605773. DOI 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.03.137. (abstract)
Gow PJ, Connelly NJ, Hill RL, et al.. Fatal fulminant hepatic failure induced by a natural therapy containing kava.. Med J Aust. 2003. PMID 12720510. DOI 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05286.x. (abstract)
Grundmann O, Wang J, McGregor GP, et al.. Anxiolytic activity of a phytochemically characterized Passiflora incarnata extract is mediated via the GABAergic system.. Planta Med. 2008. PMID 19006051. DOI 10.1055/s-0028-1088322. (abstract)
Harit MK, Mundhe N, Tamoli S Sr, et al.. Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of Passiflora incarnata in Participants With Stress and Sleep Problems.. Cureus. 2024. PMID 38646244. DOI 10.7759/cureus.56530. (abstract)
Janda K, Wojtkowska K, Jakubczyk K, et al.. Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders-A Systematic Review.. Nutrients. 2020. PMID 33352740. DOI 10.3390/nu12123894. (abstract)
Jawna-Zboinska K, Blecharz-Klin K, Joniec-Maciejak I et al.. Passiflora incarnata L. Improves Spatial Memory, Reduces Stress, and Affects Neurotransmission in Rats.. Phytother Res. 2016. PMID 26814055. DOI 10.1002/ptr.5578. (abstract)
Kafas P, Lillis T, Dabarakis N. Anxiolytic Potential of Passiflora incarnata in Oral Surgery: Mechanisms, Evidence and Clinical Application.. Pak J Biol Sci. 2025. PMID 41392563. DOI 10.3923/pjbs.2025.483.489. (abstract)
Kargozar R, et al.. A review of effective herbal medicines in controlling menopausal symptoms.. Electron Physician. 2017. PMID 29403626. DOI 10.19082/5826. (abstract)
Kaviani N, Tavakoli M, Tabanmehr M, et al.. The efficacy of passiflora incarnata linnaeus in reducing dental anxiety in patients undergoing periodontal treatment.. J Dent (Shiraz). 2013. PMID 24724122. (abstract)
Keck ME, Nicolussi S, Spura K, et al.. Effect of the fixed combination of valerian, lemon balm, passionflower, and butterbur extracts (Ze 185) on the prescription pattern of benzodiazepines in hospitalized psychiatric patients-A retrospective case-control investigation.. Phytother Res. 2020. PMID 31985131. DOI 10.1002/ptr.6618. (abstract)
Kim M, Lim HS, Lee HH, et al.. Role Identification of Passiflora Incarnata Linnaeus: A Mini Review.. J Menopausal Med. 2017. PMID 29354614. DOI 10.6118/jmm.2017.23.3.156. (abstract)
Kim GH, Kim Y, Yoon S, et al.. Sleep-inducing effect of Passiflora incarnata L. extract by single and repeated oral administration in rodent animals.. Food Sci Nutr. 2020. PMID 31993179. DOI 10.1002/fsn3.1341. (abstract)
Lee J, Jung HY, Lee SI, et al.. Effects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2020. PMID 31714321. DOI 10.1097/YIC.0000000000000291. (abstract)
Lemoine P, Bablon JC, Da Silva C. A combination of melatonin, vitamin B6 and medicinal plants in the treatment of mild-to-moderate insomnia: A prospective pilot study.. Complement Ther Med. 2019. PMID 31331545. DOI 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.05.024. (abstract)
Lima GC, Vuolo MM, Batista AG, et al.. Passiflora edulis peel intake improves insulin sensitivity, increasing incretins and hypothalamic satietogenic neuropeptide in rats on a high-fat diet.. Nutrition. 2016. PMID 27138107. DOI 10.1016/j.nut.2016.01.014. (abstract)
Lima Neto TJ, Ribeiro NP, Souza MB, et al.. Effects of Passiflora incarnata on salivary biomarkers and anxiety in patients undergoing third molar extraction surgery.. Sci Rep. 2025. PMID 41381570. DOI 10.1038/s41598-025-27468-x. (abstract)
Maroo N, Hazra A, Das T. Efficacy and safety of a polyherbal sedative-hypnotic formulation NSF-3 in primary insomnia in comparison to zolpidem: a randomized controlled trial.. Indian J Pharmacol. 2013. PMID 23543804. DOI 10.4103/0253-7613.106432. (abstract)
Mazzari ALDA, Lacerda MG, Milton FA et al.. In vitro effects of European and Latin-American medicinal plants in CYP3A4 gene expression, glutathione levels, and P-glycoprotein activity.. Front Pharmacol. 2022. PMID 36278236. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2022.826395. (abstract)
McCullagh M, Goshawk J, Eatough D et al.. Profiling of the known-unknown Passiflora variant complement by liquid chromatography - Ion mobility - Mass spectrometry.. Talanta. 2021. PMID 33076047. DOI 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121311. (abstract)
Meier S, Haschke M, Zahner C, et al.. Effects of a fixed herbal drug combination (Ze 185) to an experimental acute stress setting in healthy men - An explorative randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study.. Phytomedicine. 2018. PMID 29433687. DOI 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.12.005. (abstract)
Mielczarek L, Frankowska M, Szurpnicka A, et al.. Neuroprotective and Neuromodulatory Potential of Valeriana officinalis, Passiflora incarnata, and Ginkgo biloba: Efficacy, Safety, and Regulatory Aspects.. Plants (Basel). 2026. PMID 42739461. DOI 10.3390/plants15172694. (abstract)
Miroddi M, Calapai G, Navarra M, et al.. Passiflora incarnata L.: ethnopharmacology, clinical application, safety and evaluation of clinical trials.. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013. PMID 24140586. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2013.09.047. (abstract)
Miyasaka LS, Atallah AN, Soares BG. Passiflora for anxiety disorder.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007. PMID 17253512. DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD004518.pub2. (abstract)
Movafegh A, Alizadeh R, Hajimohamadi F, et al.. Preoperative oral Passiflora incarnata reduces anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.. Anesth Analg. 2008. PMID 18499602. DOI 10.1213/ane.0b013e318172c3f9. (abstract)
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Passionflower: Usefulness and Safety (NCCIH Herbs at a Glance). NCCIH web page (last updated April 2025). 2025. (full-text)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), LiverTox. Passionflower (LiverTox, NIDDK/NLM). NCBI Bookshelf LiverTox (entry dated 28 March 2020). 2020. (summary-only)
Ngan A, Conduit R. A double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the effects of Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) herbal tea on subjective sleep quality.. Phytother Res. 2011. PMID 21294203. DOI 10.1002/ptr.3400. (abstract)
Noorazar SG, Mirzaei M, Kalejahi P. Iranian Traditional Medicine for Treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity in Children: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.. Iran J Public Health. 2024. PMID 38894827. DOI 10.18502/ijph.v53i2.14913. (abstract)
Not verified (see journal page). Passiflora incarnata treatment during gestation and lactation: toxicological and antioxidant evaluation in Wistar dams. Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2014. (summary-only)
Rigillo G, Blom JMC, Cocchi A, et al.. Medicinal Plants for Child Mental Health: Clinical Insights, Active Compounds, and Perspectives for Rational Use.. Children (Basel). 2025. PMID 41007011. DOI 10.3390/children12091142. (abstract)
Rokhtabnak F, Ghodraty MR, Kholdebarin A, et al.. Comparing the Effect of Preoperative Administration of Melatonin and Passiflora incarnata on Postoperative Cognitive Disorders in Adult Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery.. Anesth Pain Med. 2017. PMID 28920038. DOI 10.5812/aapm.41238. (abstract)
Sarris J. Herbal medicines in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: 10-year updated review.. Phytother Res. 2018. PMID 29575228. DOI 10.1002/ptr.6055. (abstract)
Schafer AM, Gilgen PM, Spirgi C et al.. Constituents of Passiflora incarnata, but Not of Valeriana officinalis, Interact with the Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides (OATP)2B1 and OATP1A2.. Planta Med. 2022. PMID 33511622. DOI 10.1055/a-1305-3936. (abstract)
Schunck RVA, Macedo IC, Laste G, et al.. Standardized Passiflora incarnata L. Extract Reverts the Analgesia Induced by Alcohol Withdrawal in Rats.. Phytother Res. 2017. PMID 28568647. DOI 10.1002/ptr.5839. (abstract)
Seigler DS, Pauli GF, Nahrstedt A, et al.. Cyanogenic allosides and glucosides from Passiflora edulis and Carica papaya.. Phytochemistry. 2002. PMID 12150815. DOI 10.1016/s0031-9422(02)00170-x. (abstract)
Singh B, Singh D, Goel RK.. Dual protective effect of Passiflora incarnata in epilepsy and associated post-ictal depression.. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012. PMID 22107833. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2011.11.011. (abstract)
Smith GW, Chalmers TM, Nuki G. Vasculitis associated with herbal preparation containing Passiflora extract.. Br J Rheumatol. 1993. PMID 8422575. DOI 10.1093/rheumatology/32.1.87-a. (summary-only)
Soulimani R, Younos C, Jarmouni S, et al.. Behavioural effects of Passiflora incarnata L. and its indole alkaloid and flavonoid derivatives and maltol in the mouse.. J Ethnopharmacol. 1997. PMID 9234160. DOI 10.1016/s0378-8741(97)00042-1. (abstract)
Sousa DF, Veras VS, Freire VECS, et al.. Effectiveness of Passion Fruit Peel Flour (Passiflora edulis L.) versus Turmeric Flour (Curcuma longa L.) on Glycemic Control: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2020. PMID 31738145. DOI 10.2174/1573399815666191026125941. (abstract)
Sousa DF, Araujo MFM, de Mello VD, et al.. Cost-Effectiveness of Passion Fruit Albedo versus Turmeric in the Glycemic and Lipaemic Control of People with Type 2 Diabetes: Randomized Clinical Trial.. J Am Coll Nutr. 2021. PMID 33141635. DOI 10.1080/07315724.2020.1823909. (abstract)
Spencer KC, Seigler DS. Gynocardin from passiflora.. Planta Med. 1984. PMID 17340327. DOI 10.1055/s-2007-969732. (abstract)
Stonkutė I, Afanasjevas D, Janovskienė A, et al.. Preoperative Anxiolysis in Surgical Care Without Sedation or General Anesthesia: A Systematic Review.. Dent J (Basel). 2026. PMID 42345918. DOI 10.3390/dj14060327. (abstract)
Suciu F, Pascasu C, Mihai DP, et al.. Evaluation of the Antihyperalgesic Potential of Morus alba, Angelica archangelica, Valeriana officinalis, and Passiflora incarnata in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Neuropathy in Rats.. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025. PMID 41020842. DOI 10.3390/cimb47090719. (abstract)
Toda K, Hitoe S, Takeda S et al.. Passionflower Extract Induces High-amplitude Rhythms without Phase Shifts in the Expression of Several Circadian Clock Genes in Vitro and in Vivo.. Int J Biomed Sci. 2017. PMID 28824345. (abstract)
Trompetter I, Krick B, Weiss G. Herbal triplet in treatment of nervous agitation in children.. Wien Med Wochenschr. 2013. PMID 23179673. DOI 10.1007/s10354-012-0165-1. (abstract)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (eCFR). 21 CFR 172.510: Natural flavoring substances and natural substances used in conjunction with flavors. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (current). 2026. (full-text)
Velasquez ACA, Tsuji M, Dos Santos Cordeiro L, et al.. Effects of Passiflora incarnata and Valeriana officinalis in the control of anxiety due to tooth extraction: a randomized controlled clinical trial.. Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024. PMID 38743126. DOI 10.1007/s10006-024-01259-6. (abstract)
Wang XS, Hu XC, Chen GL et al.. Effects of vitexin on the pharmacokinetics and mRNA expression of CYP isozymes in rats.. Phytother Res. 2015. PMID 25447838. DOI 10.1002/ptr.5260. (abstract)
Watson RR, Zibadi S, Rafatpanah H, et al.. Oral administration of the purple passion fruit peel extract reduces wheeze and cough and improves shortness of breath in adults with asthma.. Nutr Res. 2008. PMID 19083404. DOI 10.1016/j.nutres.2008.01.003. (abstract)
Wohlmuth H, Penman KG, Pearson T et al.. Pharmacognosy and chemotypes of passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.).. Biol Pharm Bull. 2010. PMID 20522969. DOI 10.1248/bpb.33.1015. (abstract)
Xue HF, Ying ZM, Zhang WJ et al.. Hepatic, gastric, and intestinal first-pass effects of vitexin in rats.. Pharm Biol. 2014. PMID 24555505. DOI 10.3109/13880209.2013.874464. (abstract)
Zampieri VC, Gonçalves IL, Lira AL, et al.. Exploring the Effects of a Calming Herbal Tea Blend on Perioperative Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial.. J Med Food. 2025. PMID 39514279. DOI 10.1089/jmf.2024.0170. (abstract)
Zanardi R, Carminati M, Fazio V, et al.. Add-On Treatment with Passiflora incarnata L., herba, during Benzodiazepine Tapering in Patients with Depression and Anxiety: A Real-World Study.. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023. PMID 36986524. DOI 10.3390/ph16030426. (abstract)
Zhang Y, Tie X, Bao B et al.. Metabolism of flavone C-glucosides and p-coumaric acid from antioxidant of bamboo leaves (AOB) in rats.. Br J Nutr. 2007. PMID 17313710. DOI 10.1017/S0007114507336830. (abstract)
Zhao X, Fang L, Yang T et al.. Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of Isovitexin-2''-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (IVG) in Sprague-Dawley Rats.. Curr Drug Metab. 2023. PMID 37881073. DOI 10.2174/0113892002263771230920092659. (abstract)
da Cunha RS, Amorim KS, Gercina AC, et al.. Herbal medicines as anxiolytics prior to third molar surgical extraction. A randomized controlled clinical trial.. Clin Oral Investig. 2021. PMID 32951121. DOI 10.1007/s00784-020-03468-1. (abstract)
de Queiroz MdoS, Janebro DI, da Cunha MA, et al.. Effect of the yellow passion fruit peel flour (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa deg.) in insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.. Nutr J. 2012. PMID 23088514. DOI 10.1186/1475-2891-11-89. (abstract)
. EMA/HMPC assessment report on Passiflora incarnata L., herba (EMEA/HMPC/230961/2006, 15 Nov 2008; now marked superseded). . . (full-text)
. Purple Passion Flower / Passiflora incarnata L. (Gayle Fritz), Society for Ethnobotany. . . (full-text)
. GBIF Backbone: Passiflora incarnata L. (usageKey 2874218). . . (full-text)
. NCBI Taxonomy: Passiflora incarnata (taxid 159425). . . (full-text)

Where to buy

Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:

The plant part and the extract type or ratio on the label
A standardized amount of the active compounds, where relevant
A third-party testing mark (USP, NSF or ConsumerLab)
Interactions: ask a pharmacist if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a medical condition

Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.

Browse Passionflower on Amazon

Amazon · Several brands to compare

Shop Passionflower on Amazon

Support our free guides: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure.

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.