Passiflora is a plant genus with more than 400 species of creeper vines known as passion flowers or passion vines. The plants have large purple and white flowers, and vines that produce a pulpy fruit used to make beverages and ice creams. Passiflora fruit has some healing properties, but the main medicinal value in the passiflora species is in the leaves and stems. Passiflora vines contain potent flavonoids and other active ingredients, and have a wide range of healing actions.
Insomnia
Passiflora is well known for treating insomnia. In his 2003 book, "Medical Herbalism: the Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine," herbalist David Hoffmann states that Passiflora incarnata is the herb specifically indicated for intransigent insomnia. He notes that there is no narcotic effect from P. incarnata. The herb may also aid sleep by relieving nerve pain and anxiety, which can lead to insomnia.
Anxiety
While larger doses of passiflora act as a hypnotic and induce sleep, smaller doses can treat anxiety. Several species of passiflora contain chrysin, a flavonoid that reduces anxiety without the side effects caused by anti-anxiety drugs such as diazepam and lorazepam, which are members of the benzodiazepine class of drugs. Passiflora works by binding to the GABAa receptor in the brain, the same binding site for the benzodiazepines, and increasing the availability of the neurotransmitter GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, which has a calming effect on the nerves. A study published in the June 2008 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food" found that Passiflora alata and Passiflora edulis worked similarly to diazepam and relieved anxiety in animals. The researchers stated that, while diazepam caused memory disruption in the test animals, passiflora did not.
Convulsions, Spasms and Seizures
Passiflora has anticonvulsant and antispasmodic properties and is used to treat disorders such as Parkinson's, epilepsy and asthma. A study reported in the August 2007 issue of "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine" found that an extract of Passiflora incarnata delayed the onset of epileptic seizures in animals, and decreased the duration of their seizures compared to a control group. The anticonvulsant effects of passiflora were similar to diazepam, and the researchers attributed passiflora's actions to its ability to bind to GABAa sites in the brain, thereby relaxing the muscles and calming the seizures. Passiflora also works by blocking the activity of glutamate, a neurotransmitter that keeps nerve cells firing, producing convulsions and spasms.
Inflammation
Passiflora coerulea contains the flavonoid chrysin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is involved in many chronic diseases, making it necessary to use anti-inflammatory medications for long periods of time. Since these drugs often have serious side effects, many people prefer to use herbs to reduce inflammation. A study reported in the January 2005 issue of "FEBS Letters" found that chrysin, like many nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, inhibits COX-2, an enzyme that triggers inflammation and pain. There are no known side effects of chrysin.
Cancer
The research published in "FEBS Letters" also found that interleukin-6, or IL-6, is the protein responsible for chrysin's anti-inflammatory effects. High levels of IL-6 are linked to patients with advanced cancers, and passiflora has shown some promise in treating metastatic cancer. A study in the April 2008 issue of the "AANA Journal" found that the chrysin in passiflora blocked the suppression of natural killer cells needed to fight cancer, and therefore may reduce metastasis in cancer patients. Another study in the August 2006 issue of "Pharmazie" found that extracts belonging to the Passifloraceae family show activity against prostate cancer cells.
References
- "Medical Herbalism: the Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann; 2003
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; The aqueous extracts of Passiflora alata and Passiflora edulis reduce anxiety-related behaviors without affecting memory process in rats; Barbosa PR, Valvassori SS, Bordignon CL Jr, Kappel VD, Martins MR, Gavioli EC, Quevedo J, Reginatto FH; June 2008
- "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine"; Anticonvulsant effects of aerial parts of Passiflora incarnata extract in mice: involvement of benzodiazepine and opioid receptors; Nassiri-Asl M, Shariati-Rad S, Zamansoltani F; August 2007
- "FEBS Letters"; Chrysin suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression through the inhibition of nuclear factor for IL-6 (NF-IL6) DNA-binding activity; Woo KJ, Jeong YJ, Inoue H, Park JW, Kwon TK; January 2005
- "AANA Journal"; The effects of chrysin, a Passiflora incarnata extract, on natural killer cell activity in male Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing abdominal surgery; Beaumont DM, Mark TM Jr, Hills R, Dixon P, Veit B, Garrett N; April 2008
