What Is Passionflower? Other Names: Apricot Vine, Burucuya, Passiflora incarnata

What is Passionflower?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Passionflower, scientifically known as Passiflora incarnata, is a plant renowned for its unique floral structure and various medicinal properties. It has been traditionally used as a sedative, anxiolytic, and sleep aid. This article explores the different aspects of passionflower, including its medicinal uses, horticultural characteristics, and potential benefits. Other names include: Apricot Vine, Burucuya, Corona de Cristo, Fleischfarbene, Fleur de la Passion, Fleur de Passiflore, Flor de Passion, Granadilla, Grandilla, Grenadille, Madre Selva, Maracuja, Maracuya, Maypop, Maypop Passion Flower, Pasiflora, Pasionari, Pasionaria, Passiflora, Passiflora incarnata, Passiflorae Herba, Passiflore, Passiflore Aubépine, Passiflore Officinale, Passiflore Purpurine, Passiflore Rouge, Passiflorina, Passion Vine, Passionaria, Passionblume, Passionflower, Passionflower Herb, Passionsblomma, Passionsblumenkraut, Purple Passion Flower, Water Lemon, Wild Passion Flower.

Medicinal Uses of Passionflower

Sleep Aid

Passionflower has been widely studied for its potential to improve sleep quality. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study demonstrated that consuming Passiflora incarnata herbal tea significantly improved subjective sleep quality in healthy adults with mild sleep disturbances1. Another study confirmed that passionflower extract increased total sleep time and improved sleep efficiency in individuals with insomnia disorder2.

Anxiety Reduction

Passionflower is also effective in reducing anxiety. A clinical trial showed that passionflower extract significantly reduced anxiety levels in patients undergoing dental procedures compared to a placebo8. Additionally, a study on Japanese subjects found that passionflower extract improved several emotional parameters related to daytime social and mental activities, suggesting its usefulness in managing anxiety6.

Horticultural Characteristics

Propagation and Growth

Passionflower can be propagated through various methods, including cuttings and micropropagation. Research has shown that using hormone treatments can significantly enhance the rooting responses of passionflower cuttings, making it a viable method for rapid plant production3. Another study highlighted the effectiveness of ex vitro rooting techniques for different varieties of passionflower, indicating that these methods can be more efficient than traditional in vitro techniques4.

Drought Tolerance

Passionflower, particularly Passiflora incarnata, has shown moderate-to-high resistance to drought conditions. A greenhouse experiment revealed that this species could adapt well to periods of extreme drought, making it suitable for landscaping in areas prone to water stress5.

Ornamental Potential

In addition to its medicinal uses, passionflower has significant ornamental value. The plant is known for its striking flowers, which feature multiple series of brightly colored coronal filaments and elaborate floral nectary structures. Studies have shown that various passionflower genotypes possess commercial ornamental potential, making them attractive options for ornamental climbing plants10.

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Adverse Effects of Passionflower

No Adverse Neuropsychiatric Effects: Studies have shown that Passiflora incarnata does not cause adverse effects such as memory loss or collapse of psychometric functions in neuropsychiatric patients1.

Plant Disease and Agricultural Impact: While not directly related to human adverse effects, passionflower plants can suffer from severe mosaic symptoms, yellow spots, small leaves, fruit malformation, and reduced growth due to begomovirus infection. This can impact the availability and quality of passionflower products2.

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How has Passionflower Improved Patient Outcomes?

Improvement in Emotional and Social Functioning

Passionflower extract (200 mg/day) significantly improved emotional parameters related to daytime social and mental activities, including role/social component summary, social functioning, role-emotional, mental component summary, and vitality in healthy adults1.

Enhanced Sleep Quality

Passionflower tea significantly improved subjective sleep quality in healthy adults with mild sleep disturbances, as measured by sleep diaries3.

Passionflower extract increased total sleep time (TST) in adults with insomnia disorder, as measured by polysomnography2.

No Significant Improvement in Objective Sleep Parameters

While Passionflower improved total sleep time, it did not significantly affect sleep efficiency or wake after sleep onset (WASO) compared to placebo in adults with insomnia disorder2.

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Passionflower Mechanisms of Action

Sedative and Anxiolytic Effects

Passionflower has been shown to improve subjective sleep quality and reduce anxiety in various settings, including sleep disturbances and dental anxiety1 5 6.

It has demonstrated calming effects in subjects with examination anxiety, likely through modulation of neurotransmitter systems such as glutamatergic and GABAergic pathways3.

Sleep Quality Improvement

Clinical trials have indicated that Passionflower can enhance total sleep time and sleep efficiency, as well as reduce wake after sleep onset in individuals with insomnia1 6.

Subjective sleep quality ratings were significantly better with Passionflower compared to placebo, suggesting its efficacy in improving sleep1.

Neurotransmitter Modulation

The attenuation of beta1 and beta2 spectral power in EEG studies suggests that Passionflower may influence glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, which are critical for its anxiolytic and sedative effects3.

Emotional and Social Functioning

Passionflower extract has been found to improve several emotional parameters related to daytime social and mental activities, indicating its potential benefits for overall quality of life in individuals with anxiety4.

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Common Complaints Associated with Passionflower Use

Effectiveness in Reducing Menopausal Symptoms

Passionflower has been shown to significantly reduce menopausal symptoms such as vasomotor signs, insomnia, depression, anger, and headaches, making it a viable alternative to hormone therapy for some women1.

Improvement in Sleep Quality

Consumption of Passionflower tea has been associated with improved subjective sleep quality in healthy adults with mild sleep disturbances2.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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