Clitorea ternatea(Fabaceae) Aparajita

Clitoria ternatea (Butterfly Pea)

1. Scientific name and Basic Taxonomic classification

Species: Clitoria ternatea

Family: Fabaceae

Genus: Clitoria

Related Herbs from the same family:(Refer to Lablab purpureus for examples like Licorice, Fenugreek, etc., as they belong to the same Fabaceae family).

2. Common names

Scientific Name: Clitoria ternatea | English: Butterfly Pea, Blue Pea, Asian Pigeonwings | Sanskrit: Aparajita, Shankhapushpi, Girikarnika | Hindi: Aparajita, Koyal | Tamil: Kakkattan, Sangu Pushpam | Telugu: Dintena, Shankhapushpam | Kannada: Shankhapushpi, Girikarnike | Malayalam: Shankhapushpam | Marathi: Gokarna, Aparajita | Bengali: Aparajita | Sinhala: Katarolu | Thai: Dok Anchan | Malay: Bunga Telang |

3. Medicinal Uses:Medhya Rasayana (Brain Tonic & Rejuvenative), Nootropic (Memory Enhancer), Anxiolytic (Reduces Anxiety), Antidepressant, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Antipyretic (Fever-reducing), Anodyne (Pain-relieving).

Medicinal Parts:The entire plant is used, but the roots, seeds, and flowers are the most significant medicinally.

4. Phytochemicals specific to the plant and their action.

Ternatins: A unique group of blue anthocyanin flavonoids found in the flowers. Their actions are potent Antioxidant and they are responsible for the vibrant blue color, which changes with pH.

Cyclotides (e.g., Kalata B1): Small, cyclic peptides that display a range of bioactivities. Their actions are Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic (against certain cancer cells), and they may contribute to the plant's insecticidal properties.

Taraxerol: A triterpenoid compound found in the root. Its actions are Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant, and it is studied for its potential hepatoprotective (liver-protecting) effects.

Flavonoids (Quercetin, Kaempferol): Widespread antioxidants. Their actions are Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, and they support Cognitive Function by protecting neurons from oxidative stress.

Bioactive Alkaloids: The roots contain specific alkaloids that are attributed with the Nootropic and Anxiolytic properties, helping to enhance memory and reduce anxiety.

5. Traditional and Ethnobotanical uses covering the Medicinal uses.

Medhya (Brain Tonic) & Smriti Vardhaka (Memory Enhancer)

Formulation: Root powder, flower tea, or medicated ghee (Ghrita).

Preparation & Use: The root powder or a decoction of the whole plant is taken with milk or ghee. In many parts of India, the flowers are used to make a tea (Butterfly Pea Flower Tea) for this purpose.

Reasoning: It is a prime Medhya Rasayana in Ayurveda, believed to promote intellect (Buddhi), memory (Smriti), and concentration. Modern research supports its acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, which can enhance memory and learning.

Chittodvega (Anxiety) & Vishaada (Depression)

Formulation: Flower infusion or root powder.

Preparation & Use: A warm tea made from the blue flowers is consumed to calm the mind and alleviate stress and symptoms of mild depression.

Reasoning: Its balancing effect on the nervous system and its observed anxiolytic and antidepressant activities in studies help pacify mental disturbances, often associated with aggravated Vata and Pitta.

Jwara (Fever) & Daha (Burning Sensation)

Formulation: Root paste or decoction.

Preparation & Use: A paste of the root is applied topically on the forehead and body to reduce fever. A root decoction is also consumed for its antipyretic effect.

Reasoning: The root is considered to have a cooling (Sheeta) potency, which helps pacify Pitta and reduce fever and burning sensations throughout the body.

Mutrakrichra (Dysuria) & Shopha (Inflammation)

Formulation: Seed powder or root decoction.

Preparation & Use: The seeds are known for their strong purgative action, while the root decoction is used as a milder diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent for urinary tract issues and general inflammation.

Reasoning: The diuretic property helps flush out the urinary system, while the anti-inflammatory compounds like taraxerol help reduce swelling and pain.

6. Healing recipes, Teas, Decoctions and Culinary use (if any):

The flowers are famously used to make a vibrant blue tea that changes to purple with the addition of lemon juice. They are also used as a natural food colorant in Southeast Asian cuisines for dishes like sticky rice and desserts.

Medhya Butterfly Pea Flower Tea (Shankhapushpi Phalapana)

Purpose: To enhance cognitive function and promote calm.

Preparation & Use:

• Take 5-10 dried blue flowers.

• Steep in a cup of hot water for 5-10 minutes until the water turns deep blue.

• Strain and drink. Add a squeeze of lemon to watch it turn violet and add a vitamin C boost.

• Can be sweetened with honey.

Aparajita Ghrita (Medicated Ghee for Intellect)

Purpose: A classical Ayurvedic preparation for mental clarity and nervous system support.

Preparation & Use:

• This is a complex preparation made by boiling a decoction of Aparajita root with milk and ghee.

• It is typically prepared by experienced practitioners and taken in small doses.

• Note: For home use, adding 1/4 teaspoon of fine root powder to a teaspoon of warm ghee is a simpler alternative.

Natural Food Colorant

Purpose: To add a vibrant blue color to food and drinks.

Preparation & Use:

• Soak a handful of fresh or dried flowers in warm water.

• Strain the deep blue liquid and use it to color rice, syrups, cocktails, or icing.

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7.In-Depth Phytochemical Profile and Clinical Significance of Clitoria ternatea (Butterfly Pea)

Clitoria ternatea is a plant of profound beauty and biochemical complexity, esteemed in Ayurvedic medicine as a "Medhya Rasayana"—a brain tonic and nootropic agent. While its vibrant blue flowers are its most recognizable feature, the entire plant (roots, seeds, leaves) possesses a diverse phytochemical profile tailored for cognitive enhancement, neuroprotection, and antioxidant defense. Its therapeutic action is a synergy between unique flavonoids, triterpenoids, and bioactive peptides.

1. Flavonoids and Anthocyanins

This is the most distinctive class of compounds in C. ternatea, directly responsible for the flower's brilliant blue hue and a significant portion of its antioxidant and cognitive effects.

• Key Compounds:

  • Ternatins: A unique group of polyacylated delphinidin-derived anthocyanins (e.g., Ternatin A1-A5, B1-B4, C1, D1, D2). These are among the most stable blue pigments found in nature.

  • Flavonol Glycosides: Kaempferol, Quercetin, and Myricetin derivatives.

  • Other Flavonoids: Catechin, Epicatechin.

• Actions and Clinical Relevance:

  • Potent Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory: The ternatins and other flavonoids are powerful free radical scavengers, protecting tissues from oxidative stress. This activity underpins the plant's anti-aging, anti-arthritic, and general protective claims.

  • Nootropic & Neuroprotective: These compounds are central to C. ternatea's reputation as a brain tonic. They enhance memory and learning by facilitating neuronal communication, promoting acetylcholine synthesis, and protecting brain cells from oxidative damage.

  • Vision and Ocular Health: The anthocyanins improve microcirculation in retinal capillaries and support rhodopsin regeneration, aiding in night vision and protecting against eye strain and glaucoma.

2. Triterpenoids and Steroids

These compounds, found throughout the plant but concentrated in the roots and seeds, contribute to its adaptogenic and anti-stress properties.

• Key Compounds:

  • Taraxerol: A significant pentacyclic triterpenoid.

  • Taraxerone

  • β-Sitosterol: A common phytosterol.

• Actions and Clinical Relevance:

  • Adaptogenic & Anxiolytic: Taraxerol and related compounds demonstrate anti-stress and calming effects, helping the body adapt to physiological and psychological stressors, thereby reducing anxiety.

  • Anti-inflammatory & Analgesic: Triterpenoids act on inflammatory pathways, providing relief from pain and swelling, particularly in traditional use for joint inflammation and headaches.

  • Antidiabetic Potential: These compounds have been shown to enhance glucose uptake and possess anti-hyperglycemic properties.

3. Cyclic Peptides (Cyclotides)

The roots and leaves of C. ternatea contain a class of ultra-stable macrocyclic peptides that possess a diverse range of bioactivities.

• Key Compounds:

  • Cliotides (formerly known as Kalata-like peptides): e.g., Cliotide T1-T19.

• Actions and Clinical Relevance:

  • Antimicrobial & Antifungal: Cliotides disrupt bacterial and fungal cell membranes, acting as a natural defense mechanism for the plant and providing a basis for its traditional use in treating infections.

  • Cytotoxic & Anticancer Potential: Certain cliotides can induce apoptosis in cancer cells, showing promise as a template for novel chemotherapeutic agents.

  • Insecticidal: These peptides contribute to the plant's natural resistance against pests.

4. Other Critical Compounds

• Key Compounds:

  • Starch (Roots): The roots are a rich source of starch, which in Ayurveda is processed into a paste ("Shankhapushpi Pishti") used as a calming nervine tonic.

  • Fixed Oils (Seeds): Containing linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids.

  • Alkaloids (Trace): While not a major class, some indole alkaloids have been isolated.

• Actions and Clinical Relevance:

  • The starchy root preparation is a key part of its traditional use, believed to carry the "nourishing" aspects of the plant's neuro-supportive properties.

  • The fixed oil from seeds provides a nutrient base and may have emollient properties.

An Integrated View of Healing in Clitoria ternatea

Clitoria ternatea's value lies in the concerted action of its constituents across multiple body systems, with a primary focus on the nervous system:

• For Cognitive Enhancement and Neurological Health (Nootropic): The Ternatins and other Flavonoids enhance memory acquisition and retention by boosting acetylcholine levels and protecting neurons. This is synergized by the Triterpenoids (like Taraxerol), which reduce the cortisol-mediated stress that impairs cognitive function. The result is a comprehensive "Medhya Rasayana" that sharpens intellect, improves memory, and protects the brain from age-related decline.

• As an Adaptogenic and Mood-Stabilizing Agent: The Triterpenoids provide the core anti-stress and anxiolytic activity, while the Flavonoids support healthy neurotransmitter function and combat the oxidative stress associated with chronic anxiety. The starchy root preparation is used to calm the mind without inducing sedation.

• For Ocular and Microcirculatory Health: The unique Ternatin anthocyanins are selectively taken up by retinal tissues, where their potent antioxidant activity protects against light-induced damage and improves visual acuity and blood flow. This same mechanism supports cardiovascular health by protecting blood vessels from oxidative damage.

• As a Multifunctional Therapeutic: From the antimicrobial Cyclotides defending against pathogens to the anti-inflammatory Triterpenoids and Flavonoids managing chronic inflammation, C. ternatea embodies a holistic therapeutic agent. Its safety and vibrant color also make it an ideal functional food and nutraceutical ingredient.

In essence, Clitoria ternatea is far more than a natural food colorant. It is a sophisticated neuroprotective and adaptogenic herb whose blue flowers are a visible signature of a complex chemistry designed to enhance mind, calm the spirit, and protect the body.

Disclaimer:

The flowers of Clitoria ternatea are generally considered very safe when used in culinary amounts, such as in tea. The roots and seeds have stronger pharmacological actions. The seeds have a strong purgative effect and should not be consumed without expert guidance. The root should be used medicinally only under the supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner, especially during pregnancy and lactation, as safety data is limited. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

8. Reference Books, Books for In-depth Study:

• Indian Materia Medica by Dr. K.M. Nadkarni

• Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India

• Medicinal Plants of the World by Ben-Erik van Wyk and Michael Wink

9. Further study: Plants that might interest you due to similar medicinal properties

1. Convolvulus pluricaulis (Shankhapushpi)* Species: Convolvulus pluricaulis | Family: Convolvulaceae | Genus: Convolvulus* Similarities: This is the other primary herb referred to as "Shankhapushpi" in Ayurveda. Both are premier Medhya Rasayanas (brain tonics) used extensively to enhance memory, intelligence, and treat nervous disorders. They are often compared and sometimes used together in formulations.

2. Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi)* Species: Bacopa monnieri | Family: Plantaginaceae | Genus: Bacopa* Similarities: Along with Clitoria ternatea and Convolvulus pluricaulis, Brahmi completes the classic trio of Ayurvedic brain tonics. All three are nootropic, anxiolytic, and antioxidant, working to enhance cognitive function and protect the nervous system from stress.

3. Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola, Mandukaparni)* Species: Centella asiatica | Family: Apiaceae | Genus: Centella* Similarities: Another revered Medhya Rasayana, Gotu Kola shares the cognitive-enhancing and anxiolytic properties of Butterfly Pea. It is also particularly renowned for its wound-healing abilities and its positive effect on venous circulation, which distinguishes it from the others.

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