Sweet potato (
Ipomoea batatas
) is a global food crop, now being recognized as a functional food due to
several of its nutraceutical components. Several experimental studies have reported that sweet potato
can generally be beneficial in the prevention or treatment of chronic diseases through its antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anticancer/antitumour, antimicrobial and antiulcer activities.
Studies on the haematinic effect of potato leaves and their ability to enhance some haemotological
parameters are reviewed in this paper. Furthermore, the review provides an overview of the significance
and influence of cultivar on the composition and pharmacological activities of sweet potato. Sweet
potato contains a lot of beneficial phytochemicals, some of which are peculiar to certain varieties. There
is, therefore, a need for the continuous evaluation and selection of cultivars with the appropriate
phytochemical composition and bioactivities to be able to fully explore the medicinal value of sweet
potato. Studies aimed at the isolation, characterization and toxicological evaluation of its bioactive
compounds may help to strengthen and confirm the possible role of sweet potato as a health promoting
food and an alternative remedy for chronic diseases. This review highlights the pharmacological reports
on different forms of sweet potato and their potential medicinal values.
