botanical name(s): Passiflora incarnata
synonyms: passion flower, Maypops, passion vine, purple passion flower, passionblume, fleischfarbige passionsblume, fleur de la passion, passiflore
part(s) used: mainly leaf; occasionally root
qualities: bland, cold, dry
affinities: lungs, central nervous system
actions: sedative nervine, hypnotic, antispasmodic, anodyne
dosage:
» tincture: 0.5 - 3 ml.
therapy: insomnia (transient, from worry, overworking or fever; more effective in the second 24 hours than the first); prophylactic for epileptic seizures or spasms; spasmodic asthma, coughs, stress
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 1
toxicity: 2
» contraindicated during pregnancy due to the uterine stimulant action of its alkaloid content (harman) and its content of a cyanogenic glycoside, gynocardin (Brinker 1995, 1996; Farnsworth)
» associated with some mild neuroeffective (pseudohallucinogenic and soporific) effects due to harmaline alkaloids (Emboden; Tyler et al)
» acts as an depressant to skeletal and smooth muscle activity; arterial pressure may decrease without a drastic change in circulation occurring; respiratory rate may increase (Duke, p. 347)
constituents: alkaloids, flavone, glycosides and sterols
drug interactions:
» the active sedative component maltol increases sleeping time induced by hexobarbital (Aoyagi et al)
footnotes
Aoyagi N, Kimura R, Murata T. 1974. Studies on Passiflora incamata Dry Extract. I. Isolation of Maltol and Pharmacological Action of Maltol and Ethyl Maltol. Chem. Pharm. Bull., 22:1008-13.
Brinker F. 1995. Botanical Medicine Research Summaries. (from Eclectic Dispensatory of Botanical Therapeutics, vol.11), Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Brinker F. 1996. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, rev. 2nd ed., Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.
Emboden, W. 1979. Narcotic Plants. New York: MacMillan Publishing Company.
Farnsworth NR, Bingel AS, Cordell GA, Crane FA, Fong HHS. 1975. Potential Value of Plants as Sources of New Antifertility Agents I. J. Pharm. Sci., 64:535-98.
Tyler, V.E., Brady, L.R., Robbers, J.E. 1988. Pharmacognosy. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger.