Extraction - How would you extract any actives in passionflower?

[Synesthesiac]

swims been compulsive buying again and brought 50g of Passiflora incarnata (Passion Flower) for a ridiculously cheap price on ebay, as he couldn't see any decent first hand reports of any effects it may have. But he cant seem to find any information about active doses online, and the study that found that Passiflora incarnata was as effective in treating anxiety disorder as oxazepam used Passi-Flora incarnata extract, but doesn't ever mention the strength of the extract used (PassionFower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics (2001) 26, 363±367). And swim cant find any information about passiflora extracts either. Swims got a bad feeling that its going to be very hard to get any effects from the raw product without extracting the desired substances, but would not have a clue how to go about this. Any ideas?

Loos like theres a fair few active ingredients in the passiflora species, though I dont know which ones are considered active in Maypop, it seems that chrysin and flavone are the most likely for the anxiolytic effects, along with various other flavinoids:

Maypop (P. incarnata) leaves and roots have a long history of use among Native Americans in North America and were adapted by the colonists. The fresh or dried leaves of Maypop are used to make an infusion, a tea that is used to treat insomnia, hysteria, and epilepsy, and is also valued for its painkilling properties[5]. Maracujá (P. edulis) and a few other species are used in Central and South America for similar purposes.

Harman, a harmala alkaloid found in many species of Passiflora.


Many species[6] have been found to contain betacarboline harmala alkaloids[7] which are MAOIs with anti-depressant properties. The flower and fruit has only traces of these chemicals, but the leaves and the roots are often more potent and have been used to enhance the effects of mind-altering drugs. Once dried, the leaves can also be smoked.

Chrysin, a commercially important flavone found in the Blue Passion Flower.


Other interesting compounds found in passion flowers are coumarins (e.g. scopoletin and umbelliferone) and cyanogenic glycosides (e.g. gynocardin) which render some species – e.g. P. adenopoda – somewhat poisonous), maltol and phytosterols (e.g. lutenin). Many flavonoids and their glycosides have been found in Passiflora, including apigenin, homoorientin, 7-isoorientin, isoshaftoside, isovitexin, kaempferol, lucenin, luteolin, n-orientin, passiflorine (named after the genus), quercetin, rutin, saponaretin, saponarin, shaftoside, vicenin and vitexin. Blue Passion Flower (P. caerulea) and perhaps others contain chrysin, a flavone with confirmed anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory, and supposed (though probably in error) aromatase inhibitor properties. Also documented to occur at least in some Passiflora in quantity are the hydrocarbon nonacosane and the anthocyanidin pelargonidin-3-diglycoside.[8]
As regards organic acids, the genus is rich in formic, butyric, linoleic, linolenic, malic, myristic, oleic and palmitic acids as well as phenolic compounds, and the amino acid α-alanine. Esters like ethyl butyrate, ethyl caproate, n-hexyl butyrate and n-hexyl caproate give the fruits their flavor and appetizing smell. Sugars, contained mainly in the fruit, are most significantly d-fructose, d-glucose and raffinose. Among enzymes, Passiflora was found to be rich in catalase, pectin methylesterase and phenolase.[8]
The medical utility of very few species of Passiflora has been scientifically studied[9]. In initial trials against generalized anxiety disorder, Maypop extract performed as well as oxazepam but with less short-term side effects. It was recommended to follow up with long-term studies.[10]

Synesthesiac added 9 Minutes and 50 Seconds later...

Aha, found more information about what the active ingredients are thought to be, looks like the jury is still out:

http://www.stevenfoster.com/educatio...h/pflower.html
A number of chemical components have been identified from the leaves including flavonoids, small amounts of maltol, coumarin derivatives, a small amount of an essential oil and trace amounts of a potentially toxic alkaloid group called harmala alkaloids. Plant material used in European phytomedicines is analyzed to see that it contains at least 0.8% total flavonoids, and less than 0.01% harmala alkaloids. Standardized passionflower products contain flavonoids as the primary chemical marker. While flavonoids are generally considered among the most active components of the plant, scientists cannot attribute passionflower's sedative action to a single chemical compound or group of compounds. Once again, mother nature's complexity defies unraveling.
In 1988, Italian researchers published on research of an extract of P. incarnata for its potential neuropharmacological properties. Oral administration and injections into the peritoneal cavity of rats decreased brain stimulus in a number of pharmacological models. The later route of administration also significantly prolonged sleeping time and protected animals from the convulsive effect of chemical test models. Locomotor activity was also reduced by the extract. Active components were ascribed to both water soluble and alcohol soluble chemical fractions. However, the activity could not be attributed to either the alkaloids or flavonoids in the extracts. While a number of chemical components have been considered among the plant's active components, attribution to its neuropharmacological properties has not been clearly determined. These authors suggest that future research should attempt to evaluate possible relationships with central nervous system neurotransmitters.
Pharmacological studies by various European research groups have shown that passionflower preparations have antispasmodic, sedative, anxiolytic (allaying anxiety) and hypotensive activity. One Italian research group tested passionflower both alone and in various combinations with other herbs which were considered to have a sedative activity. A synergistic association of sedative activity at high dosage was observed. Other researchers have found that one component of passionflower (passicol) has antimicrobial and antifungal activity.
In European phytomedicine, passionflower is used for states of nervous tension, especially in cases of sleep disturbance or exaggerated awareness of heart palpitations at doses ranging from 0.5 to 2 g of the herb and 2.5 g of the herb in infusion (tea), taken three to four times a day. No toxicity has been observed in laboratory animals, and they also showed no adverse effects of passionflower extracts administered intravenously in mice. The German monograph on passionflower lists no known contraindications, side effects or drug interactions.

Hmmm. Although 0.01% harmala alkaloids is pretty low, it would still be nice to know if theres any way to get rid of these before swim tries.