Passion flower extract is obtained from passion flower herb or passion flower belonging to the family of Passiflora incarnata. It originates from North America, mostly found in the southeast and Midwest.

This extract is useful in easing related nervous disorders, anxiety and insomnia. This herb is also important in decreasing the depresses in the central nervous system and spasms

Studies have not explained exactly how the passion flower extract works, however, there are several theories that try to explain biological chemistry behind this plant.

However, the recent study carried out on mice stressed with alcoholic withdrawal symptoms, shows that the extract lowers the anxiety of the mice significantly. This was 90% effective in comparison with the mice that never received any treatment.

Some scholars have put forward that the plants have some compounds called alkaloids and flavonoids which act directly in the nervous system by regulating the relay of information thus lowering the anxiety.

The side effects of this extract are unclear up to date because there are no studies that have clearly come up with the tests carried out on human beings. This make it difficult for the potentially active ingredients found in different passion flower species to be used.