Comparative pharmacological study of hydroethanol extracts of Passiflora alata and Passiflora edulis leaves†

Several species of the genus Passiflora, known in Brazil as "maracujá", have widespread use in folk medicine as sedatives and tranquillizers. The anxiolytic activity of hydroethanol extracts of P. alata and P. edulis leaves was evaluated using the elevated plus-maze test. The extracts presented anxiolytic activity in dosages around 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg.