Anna Magiera, Marta Jagiełło, Anna Marchelak

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.) as an element of phytotherapy for selected, indicated by the European Medicine Agency, central nervous system disorders

 

2025-05-16

Object of review. Mental diseases are clinically significant disorders in an individual’s cognitive, emotional or behavioral functioning, associated with suffering and/or impairment of important areas of life. The most common mental diseases include, among others, anxiety disorders, the symptoms of which are primarily a feeling of nervous/mental tension (stress), stomach problems, difficulty sleeping, or a feeling of approaching danger. Nervous tension and difficulty falling asleep may take a mild form, and then in their therapy, plant substances/extracts are used as a support. One of the most commonly used plants to alleviate the symptoms of mental stress and difficulty falling asleep is passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.).

Goal of the review. A summary of current scientific data and popularization of professional knowledge on phytopharmacology of the species P. incarnata as a source of plant substances used in alleviating selected diseases of the central nervous system, as pointed out by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). In order to introduce the subject, information on botanical, biogeographical, and phytochemical aspects, traditional use, and current position in contemporary European medicine of plant substances obtained from the species is also presented.

Material and methods. The literature search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using the “Passiflora incarnata” descriptor. A total of 46 scientific articles published between 1974 and 2024 were identified. The review also included six websites, four collections of monographs on herbal substances and four books. The chemical formulas presented in the article were prepared based on the SciFinder (CAS) database by the American Chemical Society (ACS) guidelines.

Results and conclusions. A review of available scientific data from clinical, in vivo and in vitro studies undoubtedly indicates the potential of products from the aerial parts of P. incarnata in the treatment of sleep disorders and in relieving anxiety and mental stress. However, many issues regarding the therapeutic properties of passionflower remain unclear. There is a need to conduct extended studies in the field of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and safety of use (including toxicity studies or drug interactions). It seems crucial to indicate which compounds or groups of compounds determine the hypnotic, sedative and anxiolytic effects and to determine the exact mechanisms of these activities. Data from well-designed clinical studies that meet the criteria of Good Clinical Practice would be particularly desirable.

Keywords: passionflower, Passiflora incarnata, flavone-C-glycosides, indole alkaloids, sleep-inducing effect, sedative effect, anxiolytic effect.

© Farm Pol, 2024, 80(11): 767–785