Phytotherapeutic products based on Passiflora sp. in the management of anxiety: a narrative review with emphasis on pharmaceutical care

Abstract

Anxiety disorder is defined by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes. Psychotherapy and/or medication are treatment options, and one of the pharmacological treatments for anxiety involves the use of herbal medicines. Phytotherapeutic products based on Passiflora sp. have been available on the market for years to treat cases of anxiety, with clinical benefits in situations of stress and insomnia due to its central nervous system depressant effect. Given this, this study aimed to conduct a narrative review on the use of phytotherapeutic products based on Passiflora sp. in the treatment of anxiety disorders, highlighting the potential of clinical management and the role of pharmaceutical care. This is a narrative review. Databases such as Medline (via PubMed), LILACS, and Google Scholar were consulted, as well as official websites, using the DeCS descriptors “anxiety,” “pharmaceuticals,” “herbal medicines,” and “Passiflora” in Portuguese or English. The review addressed topics such as anxiety, diagnosis, treatment, the management of self-limited anxiety cases by pharmacists, and the professional conduct in these consultations. The analyzed studies showed that Passiflora sp. has anxiolytic properties mainly attributed to the presence of flavonoids and alkaloids, with a favorable safety profile and low incidence of adverse effects. In this context, it was concluded that pharmaceutical services are essential for the management of anxiety treatment, especially with the use of Passiflora sp., achieving effective and safe outcomes. However, it is important to highlight that the literature still lacks specific studies on the pharmaceutical care of patients with anxiety using Passiflora sp., which represents a gap to be explored in future research.