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Volume 14
Issue 21
10.3390/plants14213322
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Review

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

by
Nicole Marina Almeida Maia
1,
Irene Andressa
1,
Jeferson Silva Cunha
1,*,
Nataly de Almeida Costa
2,
Eduardo Basílio de Oliveira
1,
Bruno Ricardo de Castro Leite Júnior
1 and
Érica Nascif Rufino Vieira
1,*
1
Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil
2
Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southeast of Minas Gerais, Campus Rio Pomba, Rio Pomba 36180-000, MG, Brazil
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2025, 14(21), 3322; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213322
Submission received: 1 September 2025 / Revised: 14 October 2025 / Accepted: 29 October 2025 / Published: 30 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in Plants: Synthesis, Analysis and Bioactivity)
Versions Notes

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.
Keywords: phenolic compounds; anthocyanins; health-promoting properties phenolic compounds; anthocyanins; health-promoting properties

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MDPI and ACS Style

Maia, N.M.A.; Andressa, I.; Cunha, J.S.; Costa, N.d.A.; de Oliveira, E.B.; Leite Júnior, B.R.d.C.; Vieira, É.N.R. Clitoria ternatea: Perspectives on Its Application in Foods and Potential Health Benefits. Plants 2025, 14, 3322. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213322

AMA Style

Maia NMA, Andressa I, Cunha JS, Costa NdA, de Oliveira EB, Leite Júnior BRdC, Vieira ÉNR. Clitoria ternatea: Perspectives on Its Application in Foods and Potential Health Benefits. Plants. 2025; 14(21):3322. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213322

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maia, Nicole Marina Almeida, Irene Andressa, Jeferson Silva Cunha, Nataly de Almeida Costa, Eduardo Basílio de Oliveira, Bruno Ricardo de Castro Leite Júnior, and Érica Nascif Rufino Vieira. 2025. "Clitoria ternatea: Perspectives on Its Application in Foods and Potential Health Benefits" Plants 14, no. 21: 3322. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213322

APA Style

Maia, N. M. A., Andressa, I., Cunha, J. S., Costa, N. d. A., de Oliveira, E. B., Leite Júnior, B. R. d. C., & Vieira, É. N. R. (2025). Clitoria ternatea: Perspectives on Its Application in Foods and Potential Health Benefits. Plants, 14(21), 3322. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213322

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