Planta Med 2010; 76(7): 662-664
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1241015
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© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Apparently No Sedative Benzoflavone Moiety in Passiflorae Herba

Martin Holbik1 , Stanimira Krasteva1 , Nina Mayer1 , Hanspeter Kählig2 , Liselotte Krenn1
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • 2Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Further Information

Publication History

received January 7, 2010 revised February 28, 2010

accepted March 1, 2010

Publication Date:
18 March 2010 (online)

Abstract

Due to the fact that an Indian group had reported a benzoflavone moiety (BZF) as an active principle in the herb of Passiflora incarnata L. (Passifloraceae), this study was performed to isolate the compound for analytical purposes. In Passiflorae herba from three different origins (cultivations in India, Italy and France) a compound with the published TLC characteristics was detected in trace amounts only in the Italian material. No traces of the substance were found in the drugs from India and France. In a commercial extract two compounds with the respective TLC characteristics were detected. One was identified as a phytol isomer. Due to the very small amounts of the second compound its structure elucidation was not successful. The amount of extract for the isolation corresponded to approximately the 10-fold amount of the drug, from which the isolation of 332 mg “BZF” had been reported. The detection of only trace amounts of a BZF-like compound in one of three commercial samples of Passiflorae herba and in an extract suggests for the first time that BZF is not the active principle in this drug and should not serve as an active marker.

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Prof. Dr. Liselotte Krenn

Department of Pharmacognosy
University of Vienna

Althanstr. 14

1090 Vienna

Austria

Phone: + 43 14 27 75 52 59

Fax: + 43 1 42 77 95 52

Email: liselotte.krenn@univie.ac.at