Passionflower
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a dietary supplement with 8 published peer-reviewed studies involving 560 participants, researched for Anxiety Treatment, Sleep Quality, ADHD & Cognitive Function and 1 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Anxiety Treatment
StrongSleep Quality
StrongADHD & Cognitive Function
ModerateWithdrawal & Safety
ModerateResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Anxiety Treatment
To compare Passionflower extract with oxazepam for generalised anxiety disorder
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To compare Passionflower extract with oxazepam for generalised anxiety disorder
Dose
45 drops/day Passionflower extract
Participants
36 patients with GAD
Duration
4 weeks
Results
Passionflower as effective as oxazepam in reducing HAM-A scores (p=0.97). Significantly less impairment in job performance vs oxazepam (p=0.01). No sedation or dependency noted.
How They Measured It
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, job performance, side effects
To evaluate Passionflower extract on pre-operative anxiety
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate Passionflower extract on pre-operative anxiety
Dose
700 mg oral Passionflower 30-90 min pre-surgery
Participants
65 patients scheduled for outpatient surgery
Duration
Single pre-operative dose
Results
Significant reduction in pre-operative anxiety (STAI-state, p<0.001). Blood pressure and heart rate lower. Sedation level and psychomotor performance unaffected.
How They Measured It
State anxiety (STAI-state), BP, HR, VAS anxiety
To assess Passionflower on anxiety and mood in healthy adults
Study Type
Randomised, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess Passionflower on anxiety and mood in healthy adults
Dose
260 mg/day Passionflower extract
Participants
41 healthy adults
Duration
2 weeks
Results
Significant improvements in anxiety, agitation, and general mood vs placebo. Cognitive performance unimpaired. Passionflower showed anxiolytic activity without sedative effects.
How They Measured It
STAI, Profile of Mood States, cognitive testing
Sleep Quality
To evaluate Passionflower tea on subjective sleep quality
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover
Purpose
To evaluate Passionflower tea on subjective sleep quality
Dose
1 cup of Passionflower tea before bed
Participants
41 healthy adults with mild sleep problems
Duration
2 weeks crossover
Results
Significant improvement in total PSQI score and subjective sleep quality (p=0.04). Sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and wakefulness during sleep all improved.
How They Measured It
PSQI, sleep diary, polysomnography measures
To assess Passionflower on insomnia and sleep quality in menopausal women
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess Passionflower on insomnia and sleep quality in menopausal women
Dose
100 mg/day Passionflower extract
Participants
60 menopausal women with insomnia
Duration
4 weeks
Results
Significant improvement in ISI and PSQI scores (p<0.01). Sleep latency reduced and total sleep time increased. Menopausal anxiety symptoms also improved.
How They Measured It
ISI, PSQI, menopausal symptom questionnaire
ADHD & Cognitive Function
To evaluate Passionflower extract vs methylphenidate for ADHD in children
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, controlled
Purpose
To evaluate Passionflower extract vs methylphenidate for ADHD in children
Dose
8.5 mg/kg/day Passionflower extract
Participants
34 children with ADHD diagnosis
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Passionflower produced significant improvements in Conners' ratings for attention and hyperactivity. Comparable efficacy to methylphenidate. Significantly fewer side effects than methylphenidate.
How They Measured It
Conners' Rating Scale, parent-teacher reports, CGI
Withdrawal & Safety
To evaluate Passionflower for opioid withdrawal symptoms
Study Type
Randomised, controlled pilot
Purpose
To evaluate Passionflower for opioid withdrawal symptoms
Dose
60 drops/day Passionflower extract
Participants
65 patients with opioid dependence
Duration
14 days
Results
Combination of Passionflower + clonidine significantly superior to clonidine alone for managing withdrawal symptoms (p=0.001). Psychological symptoms especially improved. No adverse effects.
How They Measured It
Short Opioid Withdrawal Scale, retention in treatment, symptom measures
To review clinical evidence for Passiflora incarnata on anxiety, sleep, and related conditions
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To review clinical evidence for Passiflora incarnata on anxiety, sleep, and related conditions
Dose
Various
Participants
Systematic review
Duration
Various
Results
Consistent evidence for anxiolytic efficacy comparable to benzodiazepines without sedation or dependency. Sleep quality benefits confirmed. ADHD and withdrawal evidence preliminary but promising.
How They Measured It
Systematic review of RCTs
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Passionflower research
There are currently 8 peer-reviewed studies on Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), involving 560 total participants. Research covers Anxiety reduction, Sleep quality, Stress relief and 1 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Very Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Very Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (8 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Passionflower has been researched for: Anxiety reduction, Sleep quality, Stress relief, ADHD symptoms. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 8 out of 8 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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