Received: 03-08-2021 / Accepted: 01-03-2022
The extract from butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) flowers was done in ethanol 60% and methanol 50% and itsfractions were eluted byhexane: ethyl acetate with increasing polarity. Total efficiency of flower extraction in ethanol (17.01%) was higher thantotal extraction of the flowers in methanol (15.22%). Fraction 2 of the flowers extracted in methanol showed the highest total flavonoid content (621.43 ± 2.33mg QE/g extract). The highest total anthocyanin content in fraction 3 extracted in ethanol was 119.58 ± 1.19mgQE/g extract. The antioxidant activitiesof extract from butterfly pea flowers were investigated through its ability to reduce H2O2and free radical DPPH. The IC50value inhighfraction 3 of the extract in methanol was 166.29 ± 2.53 µg/ml and its ability to reduce H2O2was stronger than that of ascorbic acid at 176.23 ± 3.21 µg/ml. The IC50value in high fraction 2 and 3 of the flower extract in methanol was 589.27 ± 4.09 and 412.34 ± 2.91 µg/ml, respectively and all of these was able to deoxidize DPPH stronger than that of ascorbic acid at 656.23 ± 3.44 µg/ml. Thus, high fraction 3 with ethyl acetate eluent was suitable for the extraction of plant compounds from butterfly pea flowers with the strongest antioxidant activities. Furthermore, it is suggested that Clitoria ternateacan be used in dietary applications with a the potential to reduce oxidative stresses.