European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

NEUROSTIMULATORY EFFECT OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CLITORIA TERNATEA (L.) LEAVES IN SWISS ALBINO MICE: BEHAVIOURAL AND MOTOR COORDINATION ASSESSMENT

Dheeraj Kumar Mandelia*, Harshita Ghanghoriya, Manoj Sharma

ABSTRACT

Background & Aim: Clitoria ternatea (L.) (Fabaceae), commonly known as Butterfly Pea or 'Aparajita,' is a
well-recognised ethnomedicinal plant in Ayurvedic, Siddha, and folk therapeutic systems for its memoryenhancing
and nervine tonic properties. Despite documented nootropic and neuroprotective activities, its
neurostimulatory potential remains under-investigated in validated experimental models. The present study was
designed to evaluate the central nervous system (CNS) stimulant activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Clitoria
ternatea (MECT) using standard behavioural and motor coordination animal models. Methods: Fresh leaves of C.
ternatea were collected, shade-dried, and subjected to continuous Soxhlet extraction using methanol (500 mL; 6–8
h; ~65 °C). The crude MECT was screened for phytoconstituents by standard qualitative methods. Swiss albino
female mice (20–25 g; n = 6/group) were randomly allocated to four groups: normal control (vehicle), standard
caffeine (30 mg/kg, p.o.), MECT 200 mg/kg (p.o.), and MECT 400 mg/kg (p.o.). CNS stimulant activity was
assessed using the Open Field Test (OFT; ambulation and rearing counts), Runway Footprint Test (footprint
count), Rota-Rod Test (time on rod, seconds), and Grip Strength Wire Test (wire-holding time, seconds). Data
were expressed as Mean ± SEM and analysed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-hoc test (GraphPad
Prism 4.0; p < 0.05 considered significant). Results: Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of
alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, carbohydrates, tannins, saponins, phenols, and glycosides in MECT.
Both doses of MECT produced a statistically significant, dose-dependent increase in locomotor activity
(ambulation and rearing in OFT), exploratory behaviour (Runway Test), and motor coordination (Rota-Rod and
Grip Strength Wire Test) compared with the normal control (p < 0.001). The higher dose, MECT 400 mg/kg,
produced effects comparable to the standard drug caffeine 30 mg/kg across all parameters tested. Conclusion: The
methanolic extract of Clitoria ternatea leaves demonstrates significant dose-dependent CNS stimulant activity in
mice, warranting further mechanistic and clinical investigations. The activity is attributed to the rich pool of
flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic constituents identified in the extract.

Keywords: Clitoria ternatea; neurostimulant; CNS stimulant; Open Field Test; Rota-Rod Test; methanolic extract; phytochemicals; Swiss albino mice.