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Mariann Garner-Wizard
Brenda Milot
Diane Graves, MPH, RD
Heather S Oliff, PhD
Shari Henson
Densie Webb, PhD
Executive Editor – Mark Blumenthal Consulting Editors – Don Brown, N.D. , Steven Foster Managing Editor – Lori Glenn
Funding/Administration – Wayne Silverman, PhD
Production – George Solis/Kathleen Coyne
FILE: §Passionflower (Passiflora spp.)
§Libido
§Sexual Enhancement
HC 070134 - 249
Date: January 30, 2004
RE: Review of Recent Research on Passionflower
Cronin JR. Passionflower: Reigniting male libido and other potential uses. Alternative &
Complementary Therapies 2003 April:89-92.
Passionflower is the common name for numerous species of Passiflora. Originating in tropical
and subtropical regions of the Western hemisphere, passionflower has been used in herbal
medicine to treat colic, dysentery, diarrhea, menstrual pain, skin eruptions, conjunctivitis,
hemorrhoids, and muscle spasms. A number of studies support passionflower's calming effects on
the central nervous system. Recent work suggests that the plant may benefit people who are
withdrawing from addictive drugs and may bolster men's libidos. An anxiolytic effect has also
been observed.
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata, a.k.a. maypop, apricot vine) is currently thought to be the
most medicinally active of the species in the family Passifloraceae. Purple passionflower (P.
edulis) has often been confused with P. incarnata; P. edulis is the source of passion fruit.
Passiflora alata (fragrant granadilla; wing stemmed passionflower) is also called passionflower by
some publications, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture's botanical database.
Chemical content of the various Passiflora species is also poorly established. Researchers
disagree on whether its sedative effects are due to indole alkaloids such as harmane, harmaline,
and harmol; flavonoids such as apigenin, luteolin, and scopoletin; or a recently isolated
trisubstituted benzoflavone. In addition, while one of six alkaloids isolated from P. incarnata has
been called "passiflorine," believed to be the plant's active principle by some herbalists, the
Agricultural Research Service's web site describes passiflorine as inactive, while the Chemical
Abstract Service's database's only similar entry is "passiflorin," a steroid-like molecule found in P.
edulis stems and leaves which would not test positive as an alkaloid.
Ten journal articles on P. incarnata have come from a research group at Punjab University of
Pharmaceutical Sciences in India since 2001. Focusing on animal experiments, the group has used
painstakingly fractionated alcohol/water extracts of selected plant parts and has apparently
narrowed the field of potential "active principles" of P. incarnata, as well as commenting on
standardized Passiflora products.
This group has not found any bioactivity from extracts of roots or flowers. Inclusion of the whole
plant in an extract raised the dose needed for efficacy. Only extracts from P. incarnata leaves
produced anxiolytic effects. Work on fractionization by this group isolated the trisubstituted
benzoflavone mentioned above, which they hope to patent. The group has reported on this novel
compound's ability to restore libido in aging male rats, to restore fertility which has been reduced
by alcohol or tobacco use, to reduce anxiety while withdrawing from alcohol and, in what may be
an error of translation, to restore the libido of male rats which are "addicted to
tetrahydrocannabinol." (Tetrahydrocannabinol [THC], a primary active ingredient of Cannabis
sativa [a.k.a. marijuana], is not addictive.)
Two recent clinical studies from Iran have also been published. One examined a P. incarnata
extract in conjunction with the drug clonidine for treating symptoms of opium withdrawal. This
treatment was compared with clonidine plus placebo in 65 patients. While no significant
difference in physical symptoms was found, researchers reported that subjects receiving the P.
incarnata/clonidine regimen were better able to manage anxiety, irritability, cravings, etc. In the
second study, 36 patients with generalized anxiety disorder were treated with either the antianxiety drug oxazepam plus a placebo liquid or P. incarnata extract plus a placebo tablet. Patients
receiving oxazepam had lower anxiety scores than those receiving passionflower for the first 15
days of treatment; after that, there were no significant differences between the groups. However,
those in the oxazepam group showed a "higher incidence of job performance impairment."
Passionflower extract is classified as "generally regarded as safe" (GRAS) by the Food and Drug
Administration, but there have been some case reports of adverse reactions, including a case of
occupational allergic reaction. There have been no reports of herb-drug interactions. Pregnant
women are advised to avoid high doses.
— Mariann Garner-Wizard
Enclosure: Referenced article reprinted with permission from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 2 Madison Ave., Larchmont,
NY 10438; Telephone (914)834-3100; Fax: (914)834-3582; email: [email protected].
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