Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea): A Versatile Medicinal Plant with Multifaceted Therapeutic Effects

The Fabaceae family includes the rapidly expanding perennial herb Clitoria ternatea L., also known as butterfly pea. The plant is well-respected in traditional medical systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Thai folk medicine, and its wide pharmacological spectrum has recently garnered considerable scientific interest. In the Sanskrit language, where it is said to be a beneficial "Medhya" (brain tonic), it is usually referred to as "Shankpushpi." Tannins, resins, starch, taraxerol, taraxerone, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, proteins, and anthocyanins are the active chemical components recorded from this plant. The plant exhibited a variety of pharmacological actions, including antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antidiabetic, CNS, antimicrobial, gastrointestinal antiparasitic, insecticidal, and many more. Furthermore, the extracts and pigments of the plant have drawn interest in the nutraceutical, cosmetic, and functional food sectors. Although there is a great deal of preclinical data supporting its effectiveness, human clinical trials are still few, underscoring the need for more investigation into its safety, standardization, and therapeutic processes. This review brings together the most recent scientific research on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects of Clitoria ternatea, with the goal of offering a thorough overview of its diverse therapeutic uses and promoting more investigation into its clinical promise.