MaypopDESCRIPTION

Botany: Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as maypop, purple passion flower, true passion flower, wild apricot, and wild passion vine, is a fast growing perennial vine with deep three-to five-lobed leaves and large showy flowers, climbing by axillary tendrils to about 9 m. It is native to the United States. The part used is the dried flowering and fruiting top.

History and/or folklore:
For centuries the properties of passion flower have been valued in the East and by the Indian tribes of South America (for example, Incas, Aztecs and other tribes). The fruits were cultivated or managed for fruit production before the arrival of Europeans in Algonquian settlements in Virginia.

Biochemistry: Contains small and highly variable amounts of indole alkaloids, consisting mainly of harman (1-methyl-9H-b-carboline). Other constituents present include flavonoids (isovitexin 2”- β-D-glucoside, isoorientin 2”-β-D-glucoside, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, schaftoside, isoschaftoside, saponarin, vitexin, orientin, and rutin), a cyanogenic glucoside, gynocardin, sugars (predominantly raffinose and sucrose), sterols (stigmasterol and sitosterol), n nonacosane, and gum.

Maltol and ethyl maltol have been isolated from the plant. The coumarins, umbelliferone and scopoletin, have been detected in the root.

Passion flower has recently been identified as a rich source of lycopene.

Products:
Passiflora incarnata fixed oil
Passiflora incarnata botanical extract
Passiflora incarnata fruit extract is an extract of the fruit of the passion flower.

USES

Passiflora incarnata fixed oil
Traditional use: A light, gentle oil with connotations of soothing and relaxing. It leaves a natural soft feel to the skin without being over-occlusive.

Passiflora incarnata botanical extract
Traditional use: Decoctions of Passiflora have been used externally in cases of burns and inflammation. Also used in bath mixtures for its allegedly calming and soothing effects.

Passiflora incarnata fruit extract is used for skin conditioning and skin protection.

TOXICOLOGY

Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by the industry panel.