Page 248 - Trends in Science and Technology fo Sustainable Living

Trends in Science and Technology 209
for Sustainable Living

INTRODUCTION

The butterfly pea, also known as Clitoria ternatea, belongs to
the Fabaceae family and is commonly used as an ornamental plant
and for reforestation. The Balinese community, Bali Aga, utilizes
the Clitoria ternatea flower in religious ceremonies as an offering
(canang) and a symbol of femininity (Miyaura et al., 2015; Wijana
et al., 2019). In most Southeast Asian countries, the blue pigment
of the flower is used as a food colouring agent and in traditional
medicine (Havananda & Luengwilai, 2019; Oguis et al., 2019). Clitoria
ternatea is known to possess healing properties for various diseases
and symptoms such as chronic bronchitis, goitre, leprosy, visual
impairments, skin diseases, sore throat, and tumours (Suveena et
al., 2022; Lijon et al., 2017).
This plant’s Phytochemical constituents indicate various
secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, anthocyanin glycosides,
pentacyclic triterpenoids, and phytosterols (Mukherjee et al.,
2008). A protein called ‘finotin’ has been isolated from Clitoria
ternatea and reported to possess antifungal, antibacterial, and
insecticidal properties (Kelemu et al., 2004). It is likely that this
compound is primarily responsible for the antimicrobial effects
(Manjula et al., 2013). Numerous studies have been conducted on
the roots, seeds, flowers, and leaves of Clitoria ternatea. The flower
of Clitoria ternatea is known to have potential health benefits, with
several studies showing its extract to exhibit antimicrobial activity
(Leong et al., 2017). Compounds such as ternatin anthocyanin and
various flavanol glycosides of kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin
have been identified in flowers (Kazuma et al., 2003; Mukherjee et
al., 2008).
The bioactive compounds in the Clitoria ternatea flower
have received less attention as a source of antibacterial agents or
medicinal applications than other plants. Cumulative information
on this plant’s ethnopharmacology and chemical compounds
would greatly assist in discovering new drugs from natural sources.
With these benefits, this plant contributes to developing science