Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) Extract

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a flowering vine used traditionally for centuries, long valued as a calming herb for the evening. That makes it a considered choice for women 35+ looking to support calm, restful evenings. In element3 Rest, passionflower is provided at 250mg dry equivalent as Passionflower (4% isovitexin) 4:1, standardised for consistent potency.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) Extract

Technical review: Lucy Yang, MFoodTech (Dist.)Reviewed

[ 01 ] Key Facts

Dose in element3 element3 Rest: 250mg dry equivalent of Passionflower (4% isovitexin) 4:1
Form Passionflower (4% isovitexin) 4:1 — a concentrated extract standardised to 4% isovitexin.
Signs you may need more Difficulty falling asleep due to racing thoughts, evening anxiety, nervous tension, restlessness, inability to "switch off" after a busy day
Safe range 250–2,000mg dry herb equivalent per day. Clinical studies have used 250–1,000mg extract daily with good tolerability. Not recommended during pregnancy.

Food sources

  • Passionflower tea

[ 02 ] Rationale

Why this ingredient is in element3

Passionflower’s calming reputation rests on its flavonoids, particularly isovitexin and chrysin. The extract in element3 Rest is standardised to 4% isovitexin, the compound most associated with its traditional use. Like Valerian Root, passionflower has a long history as a gentle evening herb, and these flavonoids are the focus of modern research into that reputation.

The use of Passionflower (4% isovitexin) 4:1 in element3 Rest ensures that every dose delivers a consistent concentration of the flavonoid the extract is standardised for. This matters because raw passionflower preparations can vary significantly in their active compound profiles depending on growing conditions, harvest timing, and extraction methods. Standardisation to 4% isovitexin removes this variability, giving you reliable potency from dose to dose.

Within element3 Rest, passionflower sits alongside Ashwagandha Sensoril® and L-theanine. Each has its own long history of traditional use for calm, and bringing them together is a considered way to support a natural wind-down in the evening.

Passionflower is also traditionally paired with Valerian Root and Hops Extract. The three have long been used together in herbal practice, and that combination is the one most often looked at in research.

Historically, passionflower has been used for conditions described as "nervous insomnia" — sleep disruption driven not by physical discomfort but by mental overactivity. This historical application aligns precisely with the sleep pattern most common in women over 35: the inability to fall asleep not because the body isn't tired, but because the mind refuses to quiet down.

[ 03 ] At 35+

Relevant at 35+

After 35, many women find the evenings harder to settle into. Sustained stress can make it difficult to switch off even once the day is done, the familiar feeling of being tired but still switched on.

Perimenopause adds another layer. As hormone levels shift, many women in their late 30s and 40s find the evenings feel less settled than they used to. This is a normal part of the transition, not a personal failing, and it’s why gentle, traditional support for calm becomes more valuable at this stage.

This is why passionflower sits in element3 Rest. Standardised to 4% isovitexin and taken in the evening, it works alongside the other calming botanicals in the formula to support a restful, settled end to the day.

[ 04 ] Your Questions

Your Questions

What is passionflower?

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a flowering vine native to the southeastern United States and Central and South America, with a long history of traditional use as a calming herb for nervous tension, anxiety, and sleep difficulty. The aerial parts of the plant — leaves, stems, and flowers — contain a range of bioactive flavonoids, with isovitexin, vitexin, and chrysin being the compounds most directly responsible for its effects on the nervous system. These flavonoids are the compounds behind its long traditional use as a calming herb, and are the focus of modern research into that reputation.

What are the benefits of taking passionflower?
Passionflower is one of the most established traditional herbs for evening calm. It is best known for supporting a settled mind and restful sleep, and is often used alongside valerian and hops. As with any botanical, it works best as part of a healthy evening routine.

What are the benefits of passionflower in the element³ protocol?
In element3 Rest, passionflower works alongside Valerian Root, Hops Extract, Ashwagandha Sensoril®, L-theanine and Magnesium Citrate. These are traditional calming botanicals and minerals, brought together to support a restful evening as part of your wind-down routine.

What is the recommended daily intake of passionflower?
Passionflower is a herb rather than an essential nutrient, so no RDI or formal upper intake level exists. Clinical research has used doses ranging from 250–2,000mg dry herb equivalent per day, with sleep and anxiety benefits most consistently demonstrated in the 500–1,000mg range. element³ REST provides 250mg of Passionflower (4% isovitexin) 4:1 — equivalent to 1,000mg of dry herb, placing it at the upper end of the commonly studied range within a comprehensive multi-ingredient formula. It is not recommended during pregnancy and should not be combined with sedative medications without medical supervision.

Are there any passionflower side effects?
Passionflower is well-tolerated in clinical research at the doses studied. The most common side effect is mild drowsiness, which is appropriate at element3 Rest's intended evening use but should be noted by those who need to drive or operate machinery shortly after taking element3 Rest. Some individuals experience vivid dreams in the first week of use as sleep architecture adjusts. Passionflower is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or in combination with sedative medications, alcohol, or other CNS depressants. Occasional digestive discomfort or mild dizziness has been reported at higher doses than those used in element3 Rest.

What are passionflower deficiency symptoms?
Passionflower is not an essential nutrient with a defined deficiency state. It's a traditional herb, included in element3 Rest for its long-standing use in supporting calm, restful evenings.

What form of passionflower is in the element³ blend?

element3 Rest uses Passionflower (4% isovitexin) 4:1 — a concentrated 4:1 extract standardised to 4% isovitexin, the flavonoid most directly responsible for GABA-A receptor modulation. Standardisation to isovitexin content is the critical quality differentiator: unstandardised passionflower products (whole herb powder or non-standardised extracts) contain variable and often unpredictable flavonoid profiles, making their potency inconsistent. The 4% isovitexin standardisation ensures every serve delivers a reliable dose of the active compound. element3 pairs passionflower with Valerian Root and Hops Extract (in the same element3 Rest formula), a traditional combination that is well represented in the research, consistent with the multi-pathway approach throughout the protocol.

[ 05 ] The Research

2 studies

The Research

Study Key finding
Passiflora incarnata in neuropsychiatric disorders — A systematic review.Janda, K., Wojtkowska, K., Jakubczyk, K., Antoniewicz, J., & Skonieczna-Żydecka, K. (2020). Passiflora incarnata in neuropsychiatric disorders — A systematic review. Nutrients, 12(12), 3894. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123894
Systematic review concluded passionflower has anxiolytic and sleep-promoting effects across clinical trials, with a favourable safety profile.
 Read →
Effects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled studyLee, J., Jung, H. Y., Lee, S. I., Choi, J. H., & Kim, S. G. (2020). Effects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 35(1), 29–35. https://doi.org/10.1097/YIC.0000000000000291
Two weeks of passionflower significantly improved polysomnography-measured total sleep time and sleep efficiency in adults with insomnia disorder vs placebo.
 Read →

[ 06 ] In the Protocol

Where Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) Extract sits in the element3 Protocol

In element3 Rest (PM Formula), passionflower extract at 6.3mg, standardised to 4% isovitexin and equivalent to approximately 250mg of dried herb, works alongside Valerian Root, Hops Extract, Ashwagandha Sensoril® and L-theanine. These traditional calming botanicals have long been used together to support a restful evening. Taken before bed, passionflower supports a settled mind at the end of a full day.

You can learn more about the full element³ ingredient philosophy at element3.co.nz.

Good to know

This page is for general education only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor, pharmacist or other health professional. Dietary supplements should not replace a balanced diet. Always read the label and use only as directed. If symptoms persist, or you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, talk to your health professional before use.