Butterfly pea

•Scientific Classification 

Kingdom : Plantae
Order       : Fabales
Family      : Fabaceae
Genus       : Clitoria
Species     : C.ternatea

•English name : Butterfly pea

•Local name     : Katarolu/ Nil katarodu

•Botanical name : Clitoria ternatea

•Hindi name      : Aparajita

•Chinese name  : Hu Die Hua Dou

ORIGIN - India

GROWN IN - India, Madagascar, southeast Asia

Clitoria ternatea, commonly known as Asian pigeonwings, bluebellvine, blue pea, butterfly pea,cordofan pea & Darwin pea, is a plant species belonging to the Fabaceae family. 

•Description 

It is a perennial herbaceous plant, with elliptic, obtuseleaves. It grows as a vine or creeper, doing well in moist, neutral soil. The most striking features about this plant is the colour of its flowers, a vivid deep blue; solitary, with light yellow markings. They are about 4cm(1.6 in) long by 3cm (1.2 in) wide. Some varieties yield white flowers.

The fruits are 5-7 cm (2.0-2.8 in) long, flat pods with six to ten seeds in each pod. They are edible when tender.

It is grown as an ornamental plant & as a revegetation species, requiring little care when cultivated. As a legume, its roots from a symbiotic association with soil bacteria known as rhizobia, which transform atmospheric Nitrogen into a plant - usable form, therefore this plant is also used to improve soil quality through the decomosition of nitrogen rich plant material.

Health Effects of Butterfly Pea

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

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

                            Butterfly Pea has shaown 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 & cholagogue ( stimulates flow of bile from liver) 

•The Circulatory System - 

Butterfly Pea is a haemostatic (helps stop bleefing) & a blood purifier

•The Respiratory System - 

Butterfly Pea acts as an expectorant & has shown to reduce the irritation of respiratory organs, useful in treating colds, coughs & even asthma.

•The Urinary System - 

Butterfly Pea is a diuretic, helping promote normal urination & can be used for dysuria.

•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 posses 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 brain power.

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.

Benefits of Butterfly Pea

•Improve eyesight

•Improve hair growth

•Improve skin 

•Aphrodisiac

• Antioxidant

•Nootropic

•Diuretic

•Analgesic

•Anxiolyhic

•Anti - inflammatory

•Anti - Asthmatic

•Anti - anxiety and depression 

•Anti - diabetic

•Anti - HIV

•Anti - cancer and anti - tumor

•Anti - microbial

•Anti - convulsant

•Anti - pyretic

References :

www.majesticherbs.com

https://herbpathy.com

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clitoria_ternatea