CLITORIA TERNATEA - BLUE BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWERS BENEFITS

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What is Butterfly Pea (Clitoria Ternatea)?

Are you suffering from low energy or brainpower? Feeling stressed? Anxiety? Can’t sleep? Can’t conceive?
Constipated? Poor eyesight? Losing your hair or premature greying? Is your skin losing collagen?

Butterfly Pea is known to help.

Also known as Asian Pigeon Wings, Blue Bell Vine, Blue Pea, Cordofan Pea and Darwin pea, ‘Butterfly Pea’
(Clitoria ternatea) is an amazing brain boosting herb native to tropical equatorial Asia.

A traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, Clitoria Ternatea has been consumed for centuries as a
memory enhancer, brain booster, anti-stress and calmative agent.

Known for its luminous indigo colour, Butterfly Pea has traditionally been used as a vegetable in cooking, to
colour deserts or to make a strikingly vibrant coloured tea.

Butterfly Pea is jam-packed full of health promoting antioxidants, flavonoids and peptides and has shown
considerable promise in animal studies as a natural remedy for a range of health complaints.

Many beauty products have also been derived from Butterfly Pea because of the effects of the flavanoid,
quercetin has on skin and hair.

First let’s take a look at the reputed health benefits of Butterfly Pea, before looking at the available evidence.

Benefits of Butterfly Pea (Clitoria Ternatea)

 Improve eyesight
Clitoria Ternatea contains an antioxidant called proanthocyanidin, which increases blood flow to the
capillaries of the eyes, useful in treatment of glaucoma, blurred vision, retinal damage or tired eyes.
 Improve hair growth
Rich in bioflavonoids, Butterfly Pea can promote hair growth and reduce greying of hair.
 Improve skin
Butterfly Pea’s antioxidants stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis, which helps rejuvenate the skin and
lessen wrinkles and other signs of ageing.
 Aphrodisiac
Butterfly Pea has been traditionally used as an aphrodisiac particularly for women and used to treat
menstruation problems or white vaginal discharge (leucorrhoea).
 Antioxidant
Flavonoids, anthocyanins and phenolic compounds in Butterfly Pea flowers activate antioxidant activity,
which helps decrease oxidative stress caused by disease causing and ageing free radicals.
 Nootropic
Butterfly Pea has been shown to enhance cognitive function and boost brain function.
 Diuretic
Butterfly Pea promotes normal urination, which in turn lowers blood pressure
 Analgesic
Clitoria Ternatea has been used traditionally as a local anaesthetic as it has been shown to help relieve pain
and swelling.
 Anxiolyhic
Butterfly Pea has a calming effect on the body, reducing stress and anxiety
 Anti-inflammatory
The deep indigo flowers contain flavonoids. Found in almost all fruits and vegetables, flavonoids are powerful
antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits.
 Anti-Asthmatic
It is used in common cold, cough & asthma as it acts as an expectorant and reduces the irritation of
respiratory organs.
 Anti-anxiety and depression
Indications are that high doses of Butterfly Pea may be adaptogenic – helping the body deal with stressors.
 Anti-diabetic
Butterfly Pea has shown to inhibit glucose intake from the diet.
 Anti-HIV
Butterfly Pea is one of the few herbs to contain cyclotides, which have exhibited anti-HIV effects in studies.
 Anti-cancer and anti-tumor
Clitoria Ternatea’s cyclotides can cause cancer cell death by disrupting cell membrane integrity.
 Anti-microbial
In several Indian studies, Butterfly Pea exhibited significant anti-microbial effects against Staphylococcus
Aureus.
 Anti-convulsant
Butterfly Pea has been shown to help reduce the severity and stress on the body from convulsions useful in
treating epilepsy.
 Anti-pyretic
Clitoria Ternatea can help reduce fever by dilating the blood vessels right beneath the skin, whereby air can
cool the blood easier.

Health Effects of Butterfly Pea (Clitoria Ternatea)

Butterfly Pea has been ascribed many health benefits in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, many of
which have been supported with contemporary clinical research.

The herb shows promise in studies for its brain boosting effects and its wide spectrum of neurological
benefits including helping with depression, anxiety and reducing fever.

In studies to date, Butterfly Pea has shown to act on several key systems of the body:

 The Nervous System – Butterfly Pea has a calming effect on the brain
 The Digestive System – Butterfly Pea is an antiemetic (anti-nausea), antidypsetic (anti-indigestion), mild-
laxative and cholagogue (stimulates flow of bile from liver)
 The Circulatory System – Butterfly Pea is a haemostatic (helps stop bleeding) and a blood purifier
 The Respiratory System – Butterfly Pea acts as an expectorant and has shown to reduce the irritation of
respiratory organs, useful in treating colds, coughs and even asthma.
 The Urinary System – Butterfly Pea is a diuretic, helping promote normal urination and can be used for
dysuria (difficulty urinating)
 The Reproductive System: Butterfly Pea is reported to be spermatogenic, aiding in normal sperm
production
 The Integumentary System – Pre-maturing ageing is often a problem of the skin. Flavonoids present in
Butterfly Pea have been found to boost collagen production, increasing the skin elasticity.

Butterfly pea is one of the few plants on earth that contain cyclotides, peptides that have shown to possess
anti-HIV and anti-tumor properties, while certain cyclotides have been shown to be toxic to cancer cells.

In fact, while more studies are needed recent Chinese research suggests butterfly pea is very effective
against certain lung cancer cells.

Researchers have also found that a powder made from the ground-up butterfly pea leaves can enhance
cognitive ability, improving memory and brainpower.

Other studies in India found that butterfly pea improves the body’s levels of acetylcholine – an important
neurotransmitter – vital for communication within your brain.

Acetylcholine decreases significantly as we age and Butterfly Pea has been found to stimulate its production.

Clitoria Ternatea for Hair Loss

In ancient Thai medicine, Butterfly Pea herb has been used for centuries to treat male pattern baldness and
premature greying. A key ingredient in Butterly Pea is Anthocyanin, thought to increase blood flow in the
scalp and sustain and fortify hair follicles.

Clitoria Ternatea for the Brain

In animal studies, Clitoria Ternatea has shown promise for its memory enhancing effects, with a wide
spectrum of neurological benefits (anti-depression, anxiolytic, anti-pyretic) indicated, although more research
is needed.

In rats, between 50 to 100mg/kg of Clitoria Ternatea water extract was found to increase memory over the
course of 30 days.1

Larger doses of the ethanolic extract (up to 300mg/kg) have also indicated some efficacy, with the extract of
the root apparently more potent than the leaves or stem extract. 2

One in vivo study of Clitoria Ternatea suggested improved cholinergic function after oral administration of
Clitoria Ternatea, suggesting the key active compound that enhances the memory is acetylcholine. 2

An additional study also suggested increases in acetylcholine localized to the hippocampus using 100mg/kg
of a Butterfly Pea water extract.3

This study assessed both neonatal and adult rats and found hippocampal acetylcholine increases of 130%
and 262% from baseline values, with the highest efficacy in older rats.

In electroshock stressed mice (inducing cholinergic amnesia) a higher degree of memory retention was seen
with extracts of Clitoria roots.2

Butterfly Pea for Anxiety

Clitoria Ternatea has shown to possess moderate anxiolytic and anti-depressive effects. Butterfly Tea was
was also able to reduce the biological impact of stress on rats when taken at 400mg/kg, in a study on stress-
induced ulcers. 4

High doses of Clitoria Ternatea are also thought to be adaptogenic. 4

While more research is needed, Butterfly Pea appears to possess stress reducing effects.
Butterfly Pea for Diabetes
A series of in vitro studies on carbohydrate enzymes discovered that Clitoria inhibited the intestinal
glucosidase enzymes (IC50 of 3.15+/-0.19 mg/ml) against intestinal sucrase (IC50 4.41+/-0.15 mg/ml) and
pancreatic alpha-amylase (IC50 4.05+/-0.32 mg/ml).5

The study presents data from five plant-based foods evaluating the intestinal α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-
amylase inhibitory activities and their additive and synergistic interactions.

The study concludes that Butterfly Pea could be useful for developing functional foods by combination of
plant-based foods for treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus.

Preliminary research also suggests that Clitoria Ternatea is healthy for the liver and possibly beneficial for
diabetics via its ability to inhibit glucose intake.

Butterfly Pea for Heart Health

In one study of induced hyperlipidemia, Clitoria Ternatea was able to suppress triglycerides and total
cholesterol (at 500mg/kg) to a similar extent as the drugs statin atorvastatin (50mg/kg) and Gemfibrozil
(50mg/kg). 6 The benefits on triglycerides were seen through the activation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL).

Both Butterfly Pea seeds and the root extract were found to reduce triglycerides, however only the root was
able to reduce total cholesterol, suggesting the herb may have some positive effects on cardiovascular
health.

The findings of this study suggest that Butterfly Pea, in combination with another herb Vigna mungo
(Fabaceae family), may have significant antihyperlipidemic effects.

Butterfly Pea for Hypertension

Clitoria Ternatea has been used traditionally as a diuretic, which has been confirmed in animal studies but
not investigated further. 10

Butterfly Pea is thought to boost the evacuation of water (micturition), which diminishes blood mass thereby
lowering hypertension. There are also suggestions this diuretic effect aids quick but generally transitory
weight loss.

Butterfly Pea for Fever

Clitoria Ternatea is thought to bring down fever (anti-pyretic) by expanding the blood vessels just beneath the
skin, which increases blood flow where it can be more easily cooled.

In one study, the methanol extract of Clitoria ternatea was evaluated for its anti-pyretic potential on normal
body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in albino rats.

An extract of Butterfly Pea at doses of 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg produced significant reduction in normal body
temperature and yeast-provoked elevated temperature in a dose-dependent manner. The effect extended up
to 5 hours after administration.

The study suggested the anti-pyretic effect of the extract was comparable to that of paracetamol (150 mg/kg
body wt), a standard medicine prescribed for fever. 7

Butterfly Pea for Inflammation

Clitoria Ternatea may have beneficial effects for asthmatics. In one mouse study, an ethanolic extract of
Clitoria Ternatea has shown to possess anti-asthmatic effects. 8

In this experiment, there was no noted difference in the effects from between 100, 125, and 150mg/kg
bodyweight.

Clitoria Ternatea was equally effective as the drug (Dexamethasone 50mg/kg) in suppressing leukocytes and
Eosinophils.
Safety and Toxicity of Butterfly Pea
Studies assessing oral toxicity of doses up to 3000mg/kg bodyweight failed to notice any significant toxicity in
Butterfly Pea. 9

Butterfly Pea as a Food

In Southeast Asia, Butterfly Pea is used as a natural food coloring. In traditional Thai cooking, butterfly pea
flowers are squeezed for their blue extract, which is then mixed with coconut milk and other base ingredients
to naturally color Thai desserts in blue and purple. ‘Nam dok anchan’ is a syrupy and refreshing indigo-blue
drink commonly consumed in Thailand made with butterfly pea flowers, honey and sugar syrup.

In Burmese and Thai cuisines, the flowers are also dipped in batter and fried. Butterfly pea flower tea is made
from the ternatea flowers and dried lemongrass and changes color depending on what is added to the liquid,
with lemon juice turning it purple.

In Malay cooking, an aqueous extract is used to colour glutinous rice for ‘kuih ketan’ and in ‘nyonya chang’.

In Kelantan, east Malaysia, locals add a few buds of this flower in a pot while cooking white rice to add a
bluish tint to the rice known as ‘nasi kerabu’.

How to Prepare Butterfly Pea Tea?

Aside from its numerous health properties, a cup of Butterfly Pea tea every day can help reduce fatigue and
bring about a sense of calm due to the herb’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

To make tea from Butterfly Pea flowers:

Simply steep 10 flowers, fresh or dried, in a cup of hot water, let sit 15 minutes.

When there is no color left in the petal, strain the liquid and discard the flowers. You will be left with an
amazing indigo coloured broth.

Butterfly-pea flower tea commonly contains dried lemongrass, which can be added during steeping to
improve flavor.

The tea can also be consumed with some drops of lime juice to create a sweet ‘n’ sour flavor and turn the
luminous indigo tea a deeper purple color.

Tip: Mix the tea with fuchsia roselle hibiscus and the tea will turn a bright red color.

Curious About Butterfly Pea?

 On top of its health benefits, Butterfly Pea can be a lot of fun! From beautiful drinks to uniquely colored
food

References
1. Rai KS, et al. Clitoria ternatea (Linn) root extract treatment during growth spurt period enhances learning
and memory in rats. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. (2001)
2. Taranalli AD, Cheeramkuzhy TC. Influence of clitoria ternatea extracts on memory and central cholinergic
activity in rats. PharmBiol. (2000)
3. Rai KS, et al. Clitoria ternatea root extract enhances acetylcholine content in rat hippocampus.
Fitoterapia. (2002)
4. Jain NN, et al. Clitoria ternatea and the CNS. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. (2003)
5. Adisakwattana S, et al. In vitro inhibitory effects of plant-based foods and their combinations on intestinal
glucosidase and pancreatic-amylase. BMC Complement Altern Med. (2012)
6. Solanki YB, Jain SM. Antihyperlipidemic activity of Clitoria ternatea and Vigna mungo in rats. Pharm Biol.
(2010)
7. Evaluation of antipyretic potential of Clitoria ternatea. L. Boominathana, Subhash C.Mandala
8. Taur DJ, Patil RY. Evaluation of antiasthmatic activity of Clitoria ternatea L. roots. J Ethnopharmacol.
(2011)
9. Taranalli AD, Cheeramkuzhy TC. Influence of clitoria ternatea extracts on memory and central cholinergic
activity in rats. Pharm Biol. (2000)

Benefits
Clitoria ternatea is brimming with bioactive compounds, including tannins, saponins, triterpenoids,
phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. Researchers believe these compounds are what
give this herb its beneficial effects.

Studies are underway to evaluate their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, antidiabetic,
antimicrobial and gastro-intestinal anti-parasitic properties and many other pharmacological effects (1).

Clitoria ternatea boosts memory in animal studies. The goal of a 2001 study was twofold: to
determine the effect of clitoria ternatea root extract on the behavior, learning and memory of rats and to
learn whether changes occurring were temporary or permanent.

Four groups of neonatal rat pups were subjected to the following tests: open field behavioral test, two
compartment passive avoidance tests and spatial learning test. The experiment revealed no change in
open field behavior, but showed improved retention and spatial learning performance, indicating the
memory enhancing property of the extract which appears to be due to permanent changes in the brains
of the rats (2).

A comparative study was performed in 2000 to examine the effectiveness of alcoholic extracts of the
stems and leaves versus root parts of clitoria ternatea at 300 and 500 mg/kg doses administered orally
in rats. Dosing of 300 mg/kg produced significant memory retention, and the root parts were found to be
more effective.

Further, the results suggest that extracts increased rat brain acetylcholine content (a neurotransmitter
that plays a vital role in memory and learning and is in short supply in those suffering from Alzheimer’s
and also found in many nootropics) in a similar fashion to the standard drug Pyritinol, taken for the
treatment of cognitive decline (3, 4).

Clitoria ternatea may help treat anxiety disorders. According to the Anxiety and Depression
Association of America, 6.8 million Americans suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Only
about 43.2 percent of those with this disorder seek treatment and GAD often occurs along with major
depression (5).
In the ongoing search for simpler, safer ways to treat anxiety, the researchers of a 2012 study set out to
evaluate the effects of clitoria ternatea used in combination with relaxation yoga techniques. The results
published in Ancient Science of Life, showed that the combination of both clitoria ternatea and clinical
yoga techniques showed highly significant relief than single therapy, providing overall improvement in
GAD (6).

Clitoria ternatea has the potential to be an effective treatment for depression. While several
synthetic monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are effective in treating depression, researchers and
patients seek alternatives with less adverse effects. It is their hope that clitoria ternatea is that
alternative.

In one study, researchers were able to extract 25 different phytocompounds from the ethanol extract of
this herb. Among the compounds, several caught their attention for being strong contenders in the
treatment of depression, namely linolenic acid and palmitic acid.

Linolenic acid is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that effectively regulates cholesterol level in blood, and
it has neuroprotective properties. Increased intake of linolenic acid has been shown to reduce
depressive symptoms and help to maintain robust mental health.

Palmitic acid is another compound which has an antioxidant property and is backed by studies reporting
that it has anticonvulsant and antidepressant properties (7).

The researchers are hopeful that these two compounds will lead the way to developing novel non‐toxic
selective hMAO-inhibitors for the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety (8).

Clitoria ternatea has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are valuable substances that protect healthy
cells in the body from damaging free radicals. In their ongoing search to find natural sources of
antioxidants such as those found in plants, algae and herbs (rather than those made from synthetic
sources) researchers have had their eye on clitoria ternatea.

The aim of a 2013 study was to explore and compare the antioxidant potential of blue and white flowered
varieties of this herb. The observations of the study were published in the International Journal of
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and revealed that methanolic extract of the white variety of
clitoria ternatea has the strongest potential of being a source of antioxidants.

In the future, it could have greater importance as a therapeutic agent in preventing or slowing oxidative
stress related degenerative diseases.

Further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of the antioxidant effects and to
pinpoint the active compounds responsible for producing these effects (9).

Clitoria ternatea may be an effective wound healer. In an experimental animal model, researchers
investigated the wound healing activity of clitoria ternatea seed and root extracts. Both seed and root
extracts significantly improved wound healing in rats when administered orally as well as applied
topically as an ointment.

It was determined that the seed extract contained flavonol glycosides while the plant extracts contained
phenolic compounds. The researchers believe it is the presence of these compounds that are
responsible for altering the inflammatory and immune component of wound healing (10).

Side effects
Due to the fact that studies have been limited to animals, the effects of short-term and long-term use of
clitoria ternatea are not yet known.
In one animal study, researchers noted that ethanol extract of the root and plant had a low toxicity
profile. After giving rats a single dose of 1000 mg/kg of ethanol extract of the root, there was no mortality
and the rats did not present any disorders up to 72 hours after receiving the dose. The extract was even
found safe at a higher dose of 2000 mg/kg.

There was no mortality at doses of up to 2 g/kg (po) of the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of the
plant. Researchers noted that during observation, the animals exhibited decreased mobility but no signs
of convulsions or loss of writhing reflex (11).

Recommended dosage
Due to lack of human clinical studies, the recommended dosage is difficult to estimate.

Recap
Clitoria ternatea is an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine for its memory-boosting ability and neurological
benefits, including treating depression and anxiety. Researchers believe the presence of bioactive
compounds such as saponins, triterpenoids, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids are what give this herb its
many beneficial effects.

While studies have been limited to animals, the many promising results have researchers interested in
pursuing further studies in humans.