Metabolite profiling of butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea L.) in the flowering development phase

Abstract

The butter pea flower (Clitoria ternatea L.) has long been known as a medicinal plant because it contains various metabolite compounds, the content of metabolite compounds that are influenced by plant development. So it is necessary to conduct metabolomics profiling research to determine the metabolite compounds found in butterfly pea flowers in the flower bud, blooming, and wilting phases. Metabolite profiling from ethanol extract in the development phase of butterfly pea flowers in the bud, blooming, and wilting phases using GC-MS analysis identified 20 metabolite compounds each with butterfly pea flowers in the bud phase having the dominant compound Dihydroxyacetone, blooming flowers found the compound 3-O-Methyl-d-glucose, and n-Hexadecanoic acid compound withered flowers. Three dominant compounds were found in all development phases, namely 4H-Pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl; Dihydroxyacetone; Benzoic acid, ethyl ester; and Dehydroxyacetone. The unique metabolite compound 4H-Pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl is included in the flavonoid group, especially anthocyanin which has the potential to be an antioxidant, antibiotic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory so it can be used as a natural coloring agent for functional foods or drinks and herbal medicines.