There are approximately 500 species of Passionflowers, but this species is the one responsible for the commercial Passionfruit—Passsiflora edulis. Passiflora edulis is native to South America, from the southern portion of Brazil down to northern Argentina.
Passionfruit is a type of berry (in the botanical sense) and contains many seeds on the inside surrounded by a juicy sweet-tart pulp, commonly available in two main varieties: a purple or yellow-fruited version.
Passionfruits are enjoyed raw or added to other juices, as well as used in yogurts & desserts. The commercial processing of Passionfruits yields about 36% juice, 51% rinds, and 11% seeds.
The rinds are sometimes used for the extraction of pectin, which helps with the disposal problem of this waste stream, as well as the extraction of protein used for animal feed, of which it contains about 5-6%.
The seeds, on the other hand are sometimes used to extract an oil (23%) that is edible and similar to sunflower and soybean oil.
Though this is not the main medicinal Passionflower species, it does contain some of the same active components, and has been used as a source of extraction (from the leaves).
Passionfruit juice is used in Madeira as a digestive stimulant. Elsewhere Passionfruit is used for a variety of traditional uses, including increasing libido. It does contain chrysin, which has been theorized as one component that can increase sex drive through promoting testosterone production (due to inhibition of aromatase).
Anyone who has consumed a fresh Passionfruit knows that its consumption comes with also consuming a number of seeds. The extract of the Passionfruit seed has been reported to have a wide variety of beneficial effects on the skin, including melanin synthesis, increased collagen production, increased glutathione production and reduction of reactive oxygen species.
A key bioactive of interest in Passionfruit seeds is piceatannol, which is polyphenolic stilbene phytochemical and a hydroxylated analog of resveratrol. Although piceatannol is also found in grapes, it has never received much research attention in comparison to resveratrol because its levels are low. However, Passionfruit seeds have a high amount and in some cases the activities it exhibits are greater than resveratrol. Research is showing it to have several interesting activities, such as Sirt1 induction, antiglycation activities, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, upregulation of nitric oxide, promotion of collagen synthesis, UV protecting and vasorelaxant activities.
In one recent randomized clinical trial, the ingestion by women of passionfruit seed extract (with 5 mg piceatannol) with dry skin resulted in significant moisture content of the skin after 4 to 8 weeks, as well as a reduction in fatigue. Another study found piceatannol to improve metabolic health of overweight men, including insulin sensitivity, blood pressure and heart rate.
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*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
Photo by Heydew