Clitoria ternatea: Perspectives on Its Application in Foods and Potential Health Benefits

TL;DR

Clitoria ternatea, known for its blue color and bioactive compounds, is a promising natural ingredient for functional foods and cosmetics.

Contribution

This review highlights the plant's potential in food applications and health benefits, emphasizing its bioactive properties and natural colorant use.

Findings

Clitoria ternatea has antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-obesity properties.

It serves as a natural colorant and functional ingredient in food and cosmetics.

Most evidence is from preclinical studies, requiring further human trials for validation.

Abstract

In recent years, edible flowers have gained increasing attention as unconventional foods, primarily due to their richness in bioactive compounds. Within this context, Clitoria ternatea L. (Fabaceae), commonly known as butterfly pea, stands out not only for its remarkable biological properties but also for its intense blue pigmentation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the plant’s potential in the food industry, highlighting its bioactive compounds, technological applications, and associated health benefits. Recent studies have demonstrated its antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, and anticancer activities, as well as its use as a natural colorant, functional ingredient, active packaging component, and in nutraceutical and cosmetic formulations. Despite these promising findings, most available evidence comes from preclinical studies, with limited clinical validation to date. Therefore, further human studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of the reported beneficial effects. Altogether, C. ternatea represents a promising natural resource for developing functional foods that meet the growing clean-label demand, fostering the incorporation of sustainable and natural ingredients.

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