Clitoria ternatea (Butterfly Pea) – A Plant with Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Properties

Abstract

Objectives: Clitoria ternatea, commonly known as Butterfly pea is a perennial leguminous plant that has been used in folklore in the treatment of various diseases and is reported to have antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. This review is an effort to compile a detailed account of the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of the plant and the possible mechanisms behind it. Method: The related articles were searched using the databases PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar using terms related to the antioxidant, and antidiabetic activity of C.ternatea such as anthocyanins, ternatins, and hypoglycemic activity. Findings: Various solvents, namely ethanol, methanol, and chloroform, have been commonly employed for extraction but ethanol extraction consistently demonstrated superior efficiency; however, the choice of a specific solvent should be based on its intended purpose. The assessment of free radical scavenging ability predominantly involved the utilization of the DPPH method. Interestingly, the methanol extract displayed a significantly low IC50 value (95.30 µg/ml), indicating a remarkable antioxidant potential in comparison to the other extracts. The antidiabetic effect was evaluated through the measurement of blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin and insulin levels, and the regeneration of pancreatic cells. In most studies, glibenclamide was employed as the benchmark for comparison. Notably, when diabetic rats were administered the chloroform extract at a dose of 300mg/kg body weight, a remarkable reduction in blood glucose levels was observed, decreasing from 378.33 mg/dl to 136.33 mg/dl after 12 days of treatment. Novelty: The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive approach to understanding the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of C. ternatea. Unlike previous studies that primarily examine the overall pharmacological properties of the plant, this review focuses specifically on compiling a detailed account of how C. ternatea and its phytoconstituents combat oxidative stress and contribute to https://www.indjst.org/ 2431