Exploring the diversity of Passiflora species: a comprehensive review of its phytochemistry and biological activities

Abstract The genus Passiflora L. (Passifloraceae), comprising more than 500 species distributed mainly across tropical and subtropical regions, is notable for its remarkable botanical and chemical diversity. Species of this genus have attracted growing scientific and industrial interest due to their significant pharmacological, nutritional, and cosmetic potential. The rich phytochemical composition of Passiflora encompasses phenolic compounds, with particular emphasis on C -glycosylated flavones (vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, isoorientin) and flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol), as well as terpenoids (mono-, tri-, and tetraterpenes, including β-carotene and lycopene), β-carboline alkaloids (harmine, harmaline, harmalol), polyunsaturated fatty acids, cyanogenic glycosides, proanthocyanidins, and chlorogenic acid derivatives. These metabolites underlie a broad spectrum of biological activities, including antioxidant, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties; structure–activity relationships demonstrate that subtle structural variations, such as the position and type of glycosylation, hydroxylation pattern, and degree of unsaturation, critically modulate biological efficacy. This review systematically compiled and analyzed data from 89 primary studies retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and SciFinder (1978–2023), identifying approximately 360 compounds and isomers across 114 Passiflora species. The integrative approach adopted here, combining taxonomically broad species coverage with structure–activity analysis of the principal metabolite classes, distinguishes this work from previous reviews focused predominantly on a limited number of commercially relevant species. The compiled data further reveal that phytochemical knowledge remains concentrated in a small number of commercially exploited species, leaving the chemical diversity of most of the genus, including several Brazilian and Andean endemics, essentially undocumented.