Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a major global health challenge, underscoring
the need for novel, accessible, and effective therapeutic strategies. This review
critically evaluates the phytochemical composition and cardioprotective potential
of the Passiflora species, summarizes the mechanisms of action of their principal bioactive compounds,
and identifies key research gaps hindering clinical translation. With over 500 species
distributed worldwide, many Passiflora plants are traditionally used in herbal medicine. Preclinical evidence suggests that
compounds such as phenolics, alkaloids, and triterpenoid saponins exert cardioprotective
effects through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, vasodilation, blood
pressure regulation, endothelial function improvement, and autonomic nervous system
modulation. However, these findings are largely based on a limited number of species,
often using non-standardized extracts, and lack comprehensive
structure–activity relationship (SAR) analyses and clinical validation. Endemic Passiflora species remain underexplored, despite their potential to yield novel compounds with
enhanced bioactivity. This review emphasizes the need for extract standardization,
robust pharmacokinetic studies, and the integration of omics technologies and molecular
modeling to accelerate compound discovery and development. Overall, Passiflora species contain promising bioactive molecules with significant in vitro and in vivo cardioprotective effects. Nonetheless, rigorous and standardized research, including
clinical trials, is essential to fully assess their therapeutic value and support
their integration into evidence-based cardiovascular care.
Keywords
Passiflora species - cardiovascular diseases - phytochemistry - ethnopharmacology - cardioprotective
mechanisms - signal transduction pathways - Passifloraceae
