Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemical screening and muscle relaxant property of methanolic extract of Clitoria ternatea flower (MECT) belonging to the family Papilionaceae using Swiss albino mice in comparison with that of diazepam.

Method: The phytochemical evaluation of the extract was done as per the standard methods. Acute toxicity studies were done by using Swiss albino mice of either sex weighing 25-35 gm as per OECD 425 guidelines. The extract was evaluated for its muscle relaxant action compared with control (using normal saline 0.9% NaCl solution) and standard drug diazepam at the dose of 10mg/kg/ po using Rotarod apparatus. Fifteen mice of either sex were taken and divided in to five groups of 3 each. First group was considered as control, second as standard (Diazepam), third, fourth and fifth as test group (with three different doses of MECT like 50 mg/kg/p.o,100 mg/kg/p o and 200 mg/kg/p o).The extracts were administered orally.

Result: The phytochemical screening exhibits that the extract contains various phytoconstituents like Alkaloids, Tannins, Glycosides, Carbohydrates, Resins, Steroids, Saponins, Flavonoids and Phenols. The extract was found to be non-toxic upto the dose of 2000 mg/kg after the acute toxicity test. All the three doses of MECT i.e. 50 mg/kg (11 ± 0.023 sec), 100 mg/kg (7.67 ± 0.014 sec) and 200 mg/kg (5± 0.032) significantly reduced the fall off time in the Rotarod apparatus as compared to control ( 49.33 ± 0.028) (p value <0.0001). The result is also quite satisfying when compared with the standard drug at 10 mg/kg/p o (6 ± 0.019).

Conclusion: The result of the given study demonstrated that the methanolic extract of flower of Clitoria ternatea is possessing dose dependent muscle relaxant property.