Psf8.0

Passionflower Research

36 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 8/10

Over-the-counter products for insomnia in adults: A scoping review of randomised controlled trials

Salame A et al. • Sleep medicine (2025)

Over-the-counter products show promising, but inconclusive findings in alleviating insomnia symptoms in adults.

Over-the-counter products show promising, but inconclusive findings in alleviating insomnia symptoms in adults.
Future research should focus on investigating products currently used in real life, consider economic evaluations, and be evaluated in populations with co-morbidities and ethnic minorities, to better guide clinical advice.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Reviewn=405

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Herbal Medicines in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Therapeutic Potential, Plant Components, and Dosage Guidelines

Aldekhail NM et al. • Alternative therapies in health and medicine (2025)

Research must address herb-drug interactions, long-term effects, and biomarkers for personalized treatment. autism spectrum disorder, herbal medicines, narrative review, doses recommendation, therapeutic effects, side effects.

Systematic review examining Passionflower efficacy
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Review

The Efficacy of Melatonergic Receptor Agonists Used in Clinical Practice in Insomnia Treatment: Melatonin, Tasimelteon, Ramelteon, Agomelatine, and Selected Herbs

Żełabowski K et al. • Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2025)

Through comparative synthesis of pharmacokinetics and neurochemical mechanisms, this work aims to inform the development of evidence-based strategies for the treatment of insomnia and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders.

Accumulating evidence highlights that selected medicinal plants, such as chamomilla, lemon balm, black cumin, valeriana, passionflower and lavender, may exert relevant hypnotic or anxiolytic effects, thus complementing melatonergic strategies in the management of insomnia.
This structured narrative review presents a comprehensive analysis of the molecular pharmacology, receptor affinity, signaling pathways, and clinical outcomes associated with melatonergic agents.
It also examines their functional interplay with serotonergic, GABAergic, dopaminergic, and orexinergic systems involved in arousal and sleep regulation.

Systematic Review

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Integrative sleep management: from molecular pathways to conventional and herbal treatments

Ebrahim YM et al. • Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology (2025)

This systematic-review examined the effects of Passionflower.

These remedies exert their effects through multiple mechanisms, both directly by modulating neurotransmitter and hormonal pathways within sleep circuits, and indirectly by enhancing sleep quality through the alleviation of stress, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
Clinical studies were piloted to validate the efficacy of natural sleep aids.
Future research should focus on elucidating the precise mechanisms through which natural products influence sleep.

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From the Amazon to modern pharmacology: medicinal plants as metabolic and cardiovascular modulators in cardiodiabesity

Dias BP et al. • Inflammopharmacology (2025)

The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Despite the promising potential of these medicinal plants, the study identifies significant gaps in current knowledge, primarily due to the scarcity of clinical trials in humans, variability in plant chemical composition, and a lack of standardized extracts.
The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

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A systematic review of integrative medicine for opioid withdrawal

Kruszecki C et al. • Journal of substance abuse treatment (2021)

This review found evidence of multiple integrative medicine approaches for opioid withdrawal symptoms.

This review found evidence of multiple integrative medicine approaches for opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Well-designed randomized controlled trials should assess the efficacy of integrative medicine for improvement in OWS.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

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Medicinal herbs for the treatment of anxiety: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Zhang W et al. • Pharmacological research (2022)

Medicinal herbs may be promising for the treatment of anxiety.

Kava was found to be an effective anxiolytic (MD: -2.46, 95% CrI: -4.47 to -0.32) but possibly ineffective in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (MD: -0.17, 95% CrI: -2.55 to -1.97).
Ginkgo biloba (MD: -4.63, 95% CrI: -9.01 to -0.23) and Withania somnifera (MD: -4.90, 95% CrI: -9.70 to -0.17) were efficacious, as measured by HAMA scores but the trials were limited by their small sample sizes.
Conversely, although Passionflower (MD: -4.20, 95% CrI: -8.82 to 0.16) and Saffron (MD: -2.71, 95% CrI: -6.06 to 0.57) did not reduce HAMA scores significantly in the summary network, both were worthy of further study because of support from separate networks.

Meta-Analysisn=29

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Herbal Remedies and Their Possible Effect on the GABAergic System and Sleep

Bruni O et al. • Nutrients (2021)

Currently available evidence suggests that herbal extracts may exert some of their hypnotic and anxiolytic activity through interacting with GABA receptors and modulating GABAergic signaling in the brain, but their mechanism of action in the treatment of insomnia is not completely understood.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays a major role in controlling different vigilance states.
GABA receptors are the targets of many pharmacological treatments for insomnia, such as benzodiazepines.
Here, we perform a systematic analysis of studies assessing the mechanisms of action of various herbal medicines on different subtypes of GABA receptors in the context of sleep control.

Systematic Review

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Nip it in the Bud: Botanicals for Anxiety - a Practical Prescriber's Guide

Gattari TB et al. • Current psychiatry reports (2022)

Lavender appears to have the best available evidence including comparable efficacy to conventional first line treatments and is available in a patented form that was used in the cited studies (Silexan).

Systematic review examining Passionflower efficacy
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Review

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Medicinal Plants for Insomnia Related to Anxiety: An Updated Review

Borrás S et al. • Planta medica (2021)

The efficacy of medicinal plants depends on treatment duration, types of study subjects, administration route, and treatment method.

The efficacy of medicinal plants depends on treatment duration, types of study subjects, administration route, and treatment method.
More clinical trials with an adequate, standardized design are necessary, as are more preclinical studies to continue studying the mechanisms of action.
As a result of our work, we can conclude that the 3 plants with the most potential are valerian, passionflower, and ashwagandha, with the combination of valerian with hops and passionflower giving the best results in the clinical tests.Thieme.

Systematic Review

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Use of Plant-Derived Natural Products in Sleep Disturbances

Lelli D et al. • Advances in experimental medicine and biology (2021)

Despite several studies have been performed with this aim, the available evidence is inconclusive, and reviews summarizing the most recent evidences on the effectiveness of plant-derived products in treating insomnia are lacking.This narrative review aims at summarizing the evidences of the mechanism of action, effectiveness and safety of the most commonly used plant-derived products for the treatment of sleep disorders (Valerian, Lemon balm, Passionflower, Chamomile, Hops, and Jujube).

Sleep disorders have a high prevalence both in the general population and especially in specific populations such older adults and oncologic patients.
Impacting on quality of life, they often translate in drug prescription, with consequent increased risk of drug-drug interactions and adverse drug reactions.
In the last years several products derived from plants have been developed with the aim of treating insomnia with lower risk of side effects.

Systematic Review

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Herbal medicines in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: 10-year updated review

Sarris J • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2018)

Aside from this, future focus should involve the incorporation of more biomarker analysis, in particular pharmacogenomics, to determine genetic factors moderating response to herbal medicines.

Other encouraging herbal medicines with preliminary evidence include Curcuma longa (turmeric) in depression, Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) in affective disorders, and Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) as an adjunctive treatment in Schizophrenia.
Although depression and anxiety are commonly researched, many other mental disorders still require further prospective investigation.
Although the previous review suggested increasing the adjunctive study of select herbal medicines with pharmaceuticals, this was still only found to sparingly occur in research designs.

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Herbal medicine for depression and anxiety: A systematic review with assessment of potential psycho-oncologic relevance

Yeung KS et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2018)

However, well-designed larger clinical trials are needed before these herbs can be recommended and to further assess their psycho-oncologic relevance.

Overall, 45% of studies reported positive findings with fewer adverse effects compared with conventional medications.
Based on available data, black cohosh, chamomile, chasteberry, lavender, passionflower, and saffron appear useful in mitigating anxiety or depression with favorable risk-benefit profiles compared to standard treatments.
These may benefit cancer patients by minimizing medication load and accompanying side effects.

Systematic Review

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GABA-modulating phytomedicines for anxiety: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence

Savage K et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2018)

Collectively, the literature reveals preclinical and clinical evidence for various phytomedicines modulating GABA-pathways, with comparative anxiolytic effect to the current array of pharmaceuticals, along with good safety and tolerability profiles.

An open-ended search to 5 July 2017 was conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and Cochrane library online databases and performed in a stepped format from preclinical to clinical investigations.
Eligible studies must have had (a) in vitro evidence of GABA-modulating activity, (b) animal studies using anxiety models to test an anxiolytic effect, and (c) human clinical trials.
Ten phytomedicines were identified as having preclinical investigations showing interaction with the GABA system, in addition to human clinical trials: kava, valerian, pennywort, hops, chamomile, Ginkgo biloba, passionflower, ashwagandha, skullcap, and lemon balm.

Systematic Review

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Nutritional and herbal supplements for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders: systematic review

Lakhan SE et al. • Nutrition journal (2010)

Based on the available evidence, it appears that nutritional and herbal supplementation is an effective method for treating anxiety and anxiety-related conditions without the risk of serious side effects.

Of the randomized controlled trials reviewed, 71% (15 out of 21) showed a positive direction of evidence.
Based on the available evidence, it appears that nutritional and herbal supplementation is an effective method for treating anxiety and anxiety-related conditions without the risk of serious side effects.
There is the possibility that any positive effects seen could be due to a placebo effect, which may have a significant psychological impact on participants with mental disorders.

Systematic Reviewn=2,619

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Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders-A Systematic Review

Janda K et al. • Nutrients (2020)

Passiflora incarnata may be helpful in treating some symptoms in neuropsychiatric patients.

Passiflora incarnata may be helpful in treating some symptoms in neuropsychiatric patients.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Review

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Sexual Performance Anxiety

Pyke RE • Sexual medicine reviews (2020)

SPA causes or maintains most common sexual dysfunction.

SPA affects 9-25% of men and contributes to premature ejaculation and psychogenic erectile dysfunction (ED).
SPA affects 6-16% of women and severely inhibits sexual desire.
SPA causes or maintains most common sexual dysfunction.

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Saffron, passionflower, valerian and sage for mental health

Modabbernia A et al. • The Psychiatric clinics of North America (2013)

Many cultures have developed folk herbal remedies to treat symptoms of mental illness.

Many cultures have developed folk herbal remedies to treat symptoms of mental illness.
An evidence-based view is now being developed for some of these so-called alternative herbal treatments.
This article discusses clinically relevant scientific information on medicinal extracts of 4 herbs: saffron, passionflower, valerian, and sage.

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Nutraceuticals in psychiatric practice

Chiappedi M et al. • Recent patents on CNS drug discovery (2012)

The article presents some promising patents on nutraceuticals in psychiatric practice.

There is evidence of efficacy for some of these herbs an supplements, proved also by Cochrane's meta-analysis.
This implies that a scientific strategy is needed to rule out any third-part economical interest which could in any way influence therapeutic choices.
The article presents some promising patents on nutraceuticals in psychiatric practice.

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Phytotherapy of alcoholism

Tomczyk M et al. • Natural product communications (2012)

Can, therefore, drugs of natural origin be helpful in the treatment of alcoholism or in decreasing alcohol consumption?

John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.), ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A.
Mey.), Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis Thunb.), ibogaine (Tabernanthe iboga H.
Can, therefore, drugs of natural origin be helpful in the treatment of alcoholism or in decreasing alcohol consumption?

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