Passion Flower and Reduced Anxiety

Research synthesisModerate evidenceSmall effect10 studies · 8 beneficial · 2 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 10 studies, 8 reported beneficial effects of passion flower on anxiety, with the predominant effect size being small. The most consistent evidence comes from randomized controlled trials in adults undergoing dental or surgical procedures, with doses of 260–500 mg of Passiflora incarnata. Evidence for generalized anxiety in non-clinical populations is less robust.

Effective dose range: 260–500 mg
Studied populations: adults undergoing dental extraction or elective surgery

Caveats: Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Many studies focus on acute preoperative anxiety rather than chronic generalized anxiety, limiting generalizability. Effect sizes were small, and the clinical significance of the reduction may be modest.

Generated Jul 15, 2026

Doses used in studies

mg/day: 260–500 (median 260, IQR 260–380) — 3 studies

Safety in these studies

Overall tolerabilityReported
No adverse effects, including memory loss or collapse of psychometric functions, were observed.
from: Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders-A Systematic Review.
Overall tolerabilityReported
The plant has a good safety profile.
from: Passiflora incarnata L.: ethnopharmacology, clinical application, safety and evaluation of

10 of 10 papersPopulation:

Exploring the Effects of a Calming Herbal Tea Blend on Perioperative Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
- 2025-03-01
- RCT · n = 210
- Journal of medicinal food 28(3)
- - Victória Cosel Zampieri
  - Itamar Luís Gonçalves
  - Ana Luiza Lira
  - Jamile Zeni
  - Geciane Toniazzo Backes
  - André Keng Wei Hsu
- PubMed: 39514279
- DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2024.0170
1 Insight on
- Reduced Anxiety
- High evidence
- Large Human Trial
- Clinical
Both the calming herbal tea and the placebo tea were found to effectively mitigate perioperative anxiety.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Herbal medicines as anxiolytics prior to third molar surgical extraction. A randomized controlled clinical trial.
- 2020-09-19
- RCT · n = 200
- Clinical oral investigations 25(3)
- - Rafael Soares da Cunha
  - Klinger Souza Amorim
  - Anne Caroline Gercina
  - Allan Carlos Araújo de Oliveira
  - Liciane Dos Santos Menezes
  - Francisco Carlos Groppo
  - Liane Maciel Almeida Souza
- PubMed: 32951121
- DOI: 10.1007/s00784-020-03468-1
4 Insights on
- Reduced Anxiety
- High evidence
- Large Human Trial
- Adults
Passiflora incarnata showed a similar effect to midazolam but differed from placebo and mulungu, which were unable to control anxiety in this situation. Therefore, the results suggest that Passiflora configures an herbal medicine with an anxiolytic effect, adequate to use in third molar extractions.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
500 mg
Effectiveness and safety of oral sedation in adult patients undergoing dental procedures: a systematic review.
- 2021-01-25
- Systematic Review · n = 327
- BMJ open 11(1)
- - Jimmy de Oliveira Araújo
  - Cristiane de Cássia Bergamaschi
  - Luciane Cruz Lopes
  - Caio Chaves Guimarães
  - Natalia Karol de Andrade
  - Juliana Cama Ramacciato
  - Rogério Heládio Lopes Motta
- PubMed: 33495257
- DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043363
3 Insights on
- Reduced Anxiety
- High evidence
- Adults
Valeriana officinalis 100 mg and Erythrina mulungu 500 mg were more effective than a placebo
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
100 mg
Effects of Passiflora incarnata and Valeriana officinalis in the control of anxiety due to tooth extraction: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
- 2024-05-14
- RCT
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery 28(3)
- - Amalia Celsy Abregu Velasquez
  - Mayumi Tsuji
  - Lidiana Dos Santos Cordeiro
  - Maria Fernanda Pivetta Petinati
  - Nelson Luis Barbosa Rebellato
  - Aline Monise Sebastiani
  - Delson João da Costa
  - Rafaela Scariot
- PubMed: 38743126
- DOI: 10.1007/s10006-024-01259-6
1 Insight on
- Reduced Anxiety
- High evidence
- Adults
both Valeriana officinalis L. and Passiflora incarnata L., reduced STAY-S scores between T0 and T2 (p < .05), unlike placebo (p = .129)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders-A Systematic Review.
- 2020-12-19
- Systematic Review
- Nutrients 12(12)
- - Katarzyna Janda
  - Karolina Wojtkowska
  - Karolina Jakubczyk
  - Justyna Antoniewicz
  - Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka
- PubMed: 33352740
- DOI: 10.3390/nu12123894
4 Insights on
- Reduced Anxiety
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
The majority of studies reported reduced anxiety levels following the administration of Passiflora incarnata preparations, with the effect less evident in people with mild anxiety symptoms.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Effects of passiflora incarnata and midazolam for control of anxiety in patients undergoing dental extraction.
- 2017-01-01
- RCT
- Medicina oral, patologia oral y cirugia bucal 22(1)
- - L-P Dantas
  - A de Oliveira-Ribeiro
  - L-M de Almeida-Souza
  - F-C Groppo
- PubMed: 27918731
- DOI: 10.4317/medoral.21140
5 Insights on
- Reduced Anxiety
- High evidence
- Clinical
Passiflora incarnata (260 mg) or midazolam (15 mg) were orally administered 30 minutes before surgery. ... Over 70% of the volunteers responded that they felt quiet or a little anxious under both protocols.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
260 mg
Medicinal Plants for Child Mental Health: Clinical Insights, Active Compounds, and Perspectives for Rational Use.
- 2025-08-28
- Review
- Children (Basel, Switzerland) 12(9)
- - Giovanna Rigillo
  - Joan M C Blom
  - Arianna Cocchi
  - Valentina Martinucci
  - Francesca Favaro
  - Giulia Baini
  - Giorgio Cappellucci
  - Fabio Tascedda
  - Marco Biagi
- PubMed: 41007011
- DOI: 10.3390/children12091142
6 Insights on
- Reduced Anxiety
- Low evidence
- Children
Herbal products showing clinical promise include Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst., Crocus sativus L., Ginkgo biloba L., Hypericum perforatum L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Melissa officinalis L., Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Passiflora incarnata L., Pinus pinaster Aiton, Valeriana officinalis L., and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Medicinal Plants Used for Anxiety, Depression, or Stress Treatment: An Update.
- 2022-09-15
- Review
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 27(18)
- - Maša Kenda
  - Nina Kočevar Glavač
  - Milan Nagy
  - Marija Sollner Dolenc
- PubMed: 36144755
- DOI: 10.3390/molecules27186021
3 Insights on
- Reduced Anxiety
- Low evidence
currently available data do not fully support the use of peppermint for anxiety disorders and depression
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Role Identification of Passiflora Incarnata Linnaeus: A Mini Review.
- 2017-12-29
- Review
- Journal of menopausal medicine 23(3)
- - Mijin Kim
  - Hee-Sook Lim
  - Hae-Hyeog Lee
  - Tae-Hee Kim
- PubMed: 29354614
- DOI: 10.6118/jmm.2017.23.3.156
5 Insights on
- Reduced Anxiety
- Low evidence
Present review of the plants showed a wide range of pharmacological activity in anxiolytic relax the clinical disease, such as anti-inflammatory, anxiety and antioxidant.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
not stated
Passiflora incarnata L.: ethnopharmacology, clinical application, safety and evaluation of clinical trials.
- 2013-12
- Review
- Journal of ethnopharmacology 150(3)
- - M Miroddi
  - G Calapai
  - M Navarra
  - P L Minciullo
  - S Gangemi
- PubMed: 24140586
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.09.047
2 Insights on
- Reduced Anxiety
- Low evidence
their supposed efficacy does not appear to be adequately corroborated by the literature, with clinical studies often featuring inadequate methodologies and descriptions of the products under investigation
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No