Abstract

Objective: To establish the quality control parameters for two varieties of Clitoria ternatea among which one is medicinally important whereas second is ornamental.
Method: The pharmacognostic studies were focused on macroscopy, qualitative and quantitative microscopy, physicochemical parameters, quantitative estimation of phenolics, flavonoid and also the TLC profiling with two phenolics (caffeic and ferulic acid) and two terpenoid markers (lupeol and β-sitostrol).
Results: The distinguishing macroscopical feature is white and blue colour of corolla while the microscopy showed more starch grains in root; variations in pericyclic fibers, xylem vessels and pith in stem and quantitative parameters of leaf. Some variations were also observed in physicochemical parameters. However, TLC fingerprint profiles of both the varieties showed similarities in the presence of lupeol, β-sitostrol, caffeic acid and ferulic acid. However, characteristic additional bands e.g. blue  fluorescent band at Rf 0.38 under UV 366 nm and greyish blue band at Rf 0.58 under visible light after derivatization were observed only in white variety.
Conclusion: Present study provided the scientific data for the proper identification and establishment of standards for the two varieties of C. ternatea and blue variety may be used as substitute of white variety with less therapeutic activity.