PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIMICROBIAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF CLITORIA TERNATEA LEAVES (APRAJITA)

Tisha Agarwal, Yuvraj Singh Gaurav, Amit Kumar, Srishti Priya, D. Venkat Vijaya*

ABSTRACT

This study is about a beautiful blue flowering plant called Clitoria ternatea, commonly known as ‘Aprajita’ in India and globally as the butterfly pea, blue pea, or Asian pigeonwings belonging to the family “Fabaceae”. This plant has been used in traditional ayurvedic medicine as a memory enhancer, antistress, anticonvulsant and sedative agent. Its extracts possess a wide range of pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties. This study aims to confirm the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties included in plant leaves with studies using phytochemical analysis. The phytochemical analysis of C. ternatea plants leaves, flowers and seeds contain powerful natural chemicals including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and phenols. These compounds had strong antimicrobial action against common disease that caused by pathogens and infectious agents. Clitoria ternatea is not just a beautiful flower-it is a scientifically promising medicinal plant with real potential to contribute to future healthcare, especially in the field of infection treatment and oxidative stress related diseases.

Keywords: Clitoria ternatea, antimicrobial, antioxidant, Ayurveda, phytochemicals, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi Streptococcus.