Could a Passionflower Compound Help with Cannabis Withdrawal? | Research

The takeaway

An animal study found that a benzoflavone compound from passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) reduced tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms in THC-treated mice.

Read this if you are interested in natural approaches to cannabis withdrawal or the science behind traditional plant remedies.

Passionflower compound reduced both prevention and treatment of THC withdrawal in mice

What the researchers found

Mice given THC (10 mg/kg twice daily for 6 days) along with a benzoflavone compound from Passiflora incarnata developed significantly less tolerance and dependence compared to mice receiving THC alone. When withdrawal was artificially triggered using the CB1 antagonist SR-141716A on day 7, typical withdrawal effects like paw tremors and head shakes were significantly reduced in mice that had received the passionflower compound alongside THC.

Even when given acutely (single dose of 20 mg/kg) to mice already experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, the benzoflavone compound significantly attenuated withdrawal effects. This suggested the compound could both prevent and treat cannabinoid withdrawal.

Why it matters

At the time of this study, there were no pharmacological treatments for cannabis withdrawal. The finding that a compound from a traditionally used medicinal plant could reduce both tolerance development and withdrawal symptoms in an animal model represented a novel therapeutic approach grounded in ethnobotanical knowledge.

The numbers in context

THC dose: 10 mg/kg twice daily for 6 days. Benzoflavone doses: 10 or 20 mg/kg twice daily for 6 days (prevention) or 20 mg/kg single dose (acute treatment). Withdrawal was precipitated with SR-141716A at 10 mg/kg on day 7.

How the study worked

This was an animal study in which mice received THC (10 mg/kg twice daily for 6 days) either alone or with concurrent benzoflavone from Passiflora incarnata (10 or 20 mg/kg twice daily). Cannabinoid withdrawal was precipitated on day 7 using SR-141716A (10 mg/kg). Locomotor activity, paw tremors, and head shakes were measured as withdrawal indicators.

What this study cannot tell us

Animal models of cannabis withdrawal do not directly replicate human withdrawal experiences. The doses of THC used were high relative to typical human consumption. The mechanism of action of the benzoflavone compound was not elucidated. No human studies have tested this approach. The six-day dependence induction period was very short.

How to read the evidence

This is a single animal study with no human data, providing preliminary-level evidence of concept.

When this study was published

Published in 2002. Despite these findings, the passionflower compound has not progressed to human clinical trials for cannabis withdrawal.

The bigger picture

Cannabis withdrawal is now recognized in the DSM-5, but effective pharmacological treatments remain limited. The approach of looking to traditional medicinal plants for withdrawal treatments has not been widely pursued in clinical settings. This study remains one of relatively few to explore plant-based compounds for cannabis withdrawal, though the findings have not progressed to human clinical trials.

Questions still open

What is the mechanism by which this benzoflavone compound reduces cannabinoid withdrawal? Has this finding been replicated in other laboratories? Why has this approach not progressed to human clinical trials despite being published over two decades ago?

Common questions

Can passionflower help with cannabis withdrawal?

This animal study found promising results, but no human studies have tested this specific compound for cannabis withdrawal. Passionflower supplements are available and sometimes used for anxiety, but their effectiveness for cannabis withdrawal in humans is not established.

Is cannabis withdrawal a real condition?

Yes. Cannabis withdrawal is recognized in the DSM-5 and can include irritability, anxiety, sleep difficulty, decreased appetite, and physical discomfort. Symptoms typically peak within the first week of stopping and resolve within two weeks.

Read the original research

Reversal of cannabinoids (delta9-THC) by the benzoflavone moiety from methanol extract of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus in mice: a possible therapy for cannabinoid addiction.

The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology, 54(6), 875-81

View on PubMed ↗

Citation

Dhawan, Kamaldeep; Kumar, Suresh; Sharma, Anupam. (2002). Reversal of cannabinoids (delta9-THC) by the benzoflavone moiety from methanol extract of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus in mice: a possible therapy for cannabinoid addiction.. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology, 54(6), 875-81.