Plant Profile: Passionflower

Passionflower
Passiflora alata; alto; caerulea; edulis; incarnata; involucrata; quadrangularis

Effects:
Sedative, Hypnotic, Tranquilizer, MAO inhibitor, Hallucinogen, Relaxant, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Antidepressant

Botany:
The Passiflora genus is composed of many species, native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America, although they are now cultivated in many parts of the world. Passionflower is a climbing vine, noted for its variety of leaf shapes and its distinctive, complex and often aromatic flowers. In the wild most passionflowers form large mats over top of trees or other vegetation. The plant climbs by holding on branches or twigs using tendrils (specially modified leaves) that coil around anything they touch. Some species (eg P. edulis) also produce edible passionfruits. The fringed corona is distinctive of passionflowers. The variety of leaf shapes has evolved to try to confuse insect species that eat passionflower, and it is thought that the range of alkaloids, and other secondary metabolites found in the leaves and flowers serve a similar function.

History:
There is evidence that the natives in North America used passionflower as a medicinal herb, and passsionflower is still in use in native herbal medicine in South America. When the Spaniards arrived in the New World, they gave passionflower its name because they felt that its flowers represented Christ’s crucifixion. The fringed corona represented Christ’s crown of thorns, the three stigmas represented the nails pounded into Christ’s arms and feet, the five stamens represent Christ’s wounds on the cross, and the ten sepals and petals represent ten of the twelve apostles (Judas and Peter get left out).

Passionflower quickly gained a reputation as an effective sedative in the 19th century in America. In 1898 the American physicians Felter and Lloyd wrote "Its force is exerted chiefly upon the nervous system, the remedy finding a wide application in spasmodic disorders and as a rest-producing agent. It proves specially useful in the insomnia of infants and old people. It gives sleep to those who are laboring under the effects of mental worry or from mental overwork." Although it is a common ingredient of many herbal sedatives or sleep aids, the US Food and Drug Administration did not approve it as a sedative in a 1978 study.

Use and preparation:
Passionflower is most often prepared by steeping leaves or flowers in water to make a tea. Depending on the effects desired, anywhere from 2 grams (mild sedation) to 100 grams (full MAO inhibition) can be used. Flowers are generally considered stronger than leaves. Passionflower can also be smoked for a mild effect. High strength extractions of passionflower done using alcohol are significantly more potent than the plant material itself. A passionflower tincture may be created by soaking passionflower in high proof grain alcohol for about a week. A high strength, smokeable passionflower extract can be made by soaking passionflower in alcohol and then boiling away the alcohol. Generally amounts of passionflower under 10 grams will cause mainly sedative and relaxant effects, whereas amounts over 25 grams will start to cause MAO inhibition and some mild psychedelic effects.

Subjective effects:
In low doses, passionflower causes a feeling of relaxation and calm. This effect will come on about 20-30 minutes after drinking passionflower tea, or almost immediately after smoking passionflower. The effects will last for 4-5 hours with tea, or 2-3 hours when smoked. The user may feel lethargic and tired, and their limbs may feel heavy. At higher doses, some euphoria or antidepressant effects may be noted. Dizziness or nausea may be noticed at higher doses. Hallucinations on passionflower are generally slight and fleeting open eye visuals, or indistinct colours and blobs when the subjects eyes are closed. Since passionflower is an MAOI, it will increase the effects of tryptamines and other psychedelics. It will also potentiate other sedative or stimulant agents. It may be dangerous to combine passionflower with sedatives or stimulants.

Chemistry and pharmacology:
Passionflower contains a variety of active compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids and glycosides. The psychoactive effects of passionflower are attributed mainly to the harmala alkaloids (harmane, harmaline, harmine and harmol), which are present at a concentration of about 0.1 to 0.2% of the plant material. Other active compounds include the sedative alkaloid passiflorine, the sedative compound maltol, the compound apigenin which is found in chamomile and acts as a sedative via benzodiazepine receptors, and a flavonoid known as chrysin that has potent anti-anxiety actions. Also present in the plant are luteolin, kaempferol and quercetin, which may have anti-cancerous properties.

	Author	Topic: Plant Profile: Passionflower (Read 281 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.