Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities of Clitoria ternatea L. flower aqueous extract against HaCaT cell line

Clitoria ternatea L., traditionally used in Ayurveda is recognized for its antiparasitic and therapeutic properties. However, there is still limited evidence describing its bioactive components and biological activity using aqueous flower extracts relevant to topical and dermatological applications. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential and cytotoxic effects of Clitoria ternatea L. flower aqueous extract, highlighting its pharmacological relevance and safe application in human skin models. The extract was analysed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total anthocyanin content (TAC) and screened for bioactive using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and FRAP assays, while cytotoxicity against human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells was assessed through 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The extract demonstrated high levels of phenolics and flavonoids, recording 114.9 ± 0.47 mg GAE/g and 95.5 ± 0.59 mg QE/g respectively at 1000 µg/mL. TAC was 17.67 ± 5.42 mg/L at 10000 µg/mL. LC-MS identified key antioxidant and antiparasitic compounds including rutin, kaempferol and cyanidin-3-rutinoside. Antioxidant assays revealed moderate activity with IC50 values of 832 ± 10.22 µg/mL (DPPH) and 662 ± 8.32 µg/mL (FRAP), lower than ascorbic acid or gallic acid. The extract showed no cytotoxicity on HaCaT cells at concentrations below 2 mg/mL, supporting its safety for topical use. These findings advance our understanding of Clitoria ternatea L. phytoconstituent profile and support its development for natural skincare or therapeutic applications. Furthermore, the findings also support biodiversity conservation by promoting the sustainable use of medicinal plants.