ABSTRACT
The family Passifloraceae consists of 16 genera and 650 species of climbers widespread in tropical regions and known to produce cyanogenic glycosides and a series of centrally active β-carboline alkaloids such as passiflorine. The botanical hallmark of Passifloraceae is the flower, which shows an elongated androgynophore. Adenia cordifolia Engl. is a climber of the peat swamp forests of Malaysia and Indonesia, and grows to a length of 10m. The stems are woody, 2mm in diameter. In Indonesia, the sap of the stem is used to soothe inflamed eyes. The pharmacological properties of this plant are unexplored. The roots of Adenia volkensii Harms contain a volkensin, a type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein. Passiflora foetida L. is a perennial climber native to America and is pantropical in distribution. The stems are hirsute to pilose with 5cm-long tendrils. Passiflora quadrangularis L. is a climber native to tropical America. It is cultivated for its fruits, which are palatable, and also used as an ornamental plant.
