Assessment of skin safety and anti-pollution activity of Clitoria ternatea L. (butterfly pea) flower extract.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Clitoria ternatea L. (Fabaceae), commonly known as butterfly pea, has a well-established role in Ayurvedic and Southeast Asian traditional medicine. While its internal uses-for enhancing memory and reducing inflammation-are well documented, its external applications for treating skin irritations, wounds, and inflammation are less scientifically substantiated, despite historical use in India, Thailand, and Indonesia.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to evaluate the dermal safety and anti-pollution efficacy of Clitoria ternatea flower (CTF) extracts prepared via traditional water digestion (CTFW) and ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (CTFE).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

In vitro safety assessments were conducted using OECD-validated methods, including Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA), ARE-Nrf2 luciferase assay, MTT cytotoxicity, and phototoxicity assays. Dermal absorption was analyzed using a Franz diffusion cell, followed by calculation of systemic exposure dose (SED) and margin of safety (MoS). Anti-pollution efficacy was evaluated via intracellular ROS inhibition and Western blot analysis of particulate matter (PM)-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in HaCaT keratinocytes.

RESULTS

Both extracts were non-sensitizing and showed favorable dermal safety without systemic exposure. Although CTFE exhibited phototoxicity at high concentrations, CTFW demonstrated superior ROS-scavenging activity and significantly inhibited PM-induced inflammatory and aging-related proteins. MoS estimation, based on in vitro percutaneous absorption data, further suggested a favorable safety margin for both extracts in topical application.

CONCLUSION

These findings support the ethnopharmacological use of Clitoria ternatea for skin-related conditions and highlight its promise as a bioactive cosmetic ingredient. CTFW, in particular, offers enhanced anti-pollution efficacy and a stronger safety profile.