exploring butterfly pea (𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘢) extract as a natural quercetin source with antibacterial properties

Butterfly pea flowers (clitoria ternatea) are a natural source of quercetin, a flavonoid with various biological activities, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. this study aims to determine the quercetin levels in butterfly pea flower extract and test its antibacterial activity against escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus. quercetin analysis using the hplc method at a wavelength of 374 nm showed an average level of 42 ppm (4.2% w/w), with method validation including accuracy, precision, linearity (𝑟2=0.9959), and lod and loq are 0.57 ppm and 1.91 ppm respectively. antibacterial tests showed that butterfly pea flower extract inhibited the growth of e. coli and s. aureus with the largest zone of inhibition at a concentration of 30% of 10.27 ± 1.01 mm and 12.28 ± 0.09 mm, respectively. this activity is related to the quercetin content, which is known to work through mechanisms such as damaging bacterial cell walls and inhibiting biofilm formation. due to this pharmacological potential, these flowers can be developed as a natural antibacterial agent in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.