"Clitoria ternatea (Butterfly Pea): A Comprehensive Review of Its Phytochemical Constituents, Pharmacological Properties, and Therapeutic Potential"

Clitoria ternatea L., commonly known as butterfly pea or aparajita, is a perennial climbing plant belonging to the family Fabaceae. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant and used in traditional medicine, food colouring, and forage systems. Different parts of the plant contain bioactive constituents, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, and cyclotides. The blue flower pigments known as ternatins are polyacylated anthocyanins that have attracted interest because of their colour properties and antioxidant activity in experimental assays. Research has examined possible antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, glucose-regulating, neuropharmacological, antimicrobial, and cytoprotective activities. Proposed mechanisms include interactions with reactive species, modulation of inflammatory signalling, effects on post-meal glucose responses, and influence on pathways associated with memory. However, the strength of evidence differs among these activities, and much of the literature is based on chemical assays, cell cultures, or animal studies. A small human crossover study has investigated acute postprandial responses to a flower beverage, but this does not establish long-term therapeutic efficacy. This review summarizes the botanical identity, synonyms, morphological features, phytochemical constituents, proposed mechanisms, and reported pharmacological properties of C. ternatea. Further research is needed on standardized preparations, bioavailability, safety, and clinical effectiveness before definitive therapeutic claims can be made. [12]