Anti-Ulcerative Potential of Clitoria ternatea Flower Extract in Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)–Induced Ulcerative Colitis: A Comprehensive Review

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by continuous inflammation of the colonic mucosa, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and weight loss.Despite the availability of conventional therapies including aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics, long-term treatment is often limited by adverse effects, high cost, and incomplete remission.Consequently, there is growing interest in plant-based therapeutic alternatives with multi-targeted actions and improved safety profiles.Clitoria ternatea L. (Fabaceae), commonly known as butterfly pea, is a traditional medicinal plant widely used in Ayurvedic and folk medicine for inflammatory, gastrointestinal, and neurological disorders.The flower of C. ternatea is rich in bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, and saponins, which exhibit potent antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities.Emerging experimental evidence suggests that these properties may be beneficial in the management of ulcerative colitis.The dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model is a well-established experimental system that closely mimics human UC pathology and is widely used to evaluate potential therapeutic agents.This review critically compiles and analyzes available literature on the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis, the pharmacological relevance of Clitoria ternatea, and experimental evidence supporting its anti-ulcerative potential, with special emphasis on antioxidant and antiinflammatory mechanisms.The review also highlights research gaps and future directions for the development of C. ternatea as a plant-based therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis.