Sweet Potato Antidiabetic

 

Introduction

The prevalence of diabetes in 2021 was 537 million people [1]. 

This number is anticipated to rise by 10.2% by 2030 and 10.9% by 2045 [2]. 

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications were responsible for 12.2% of fatalities worldwide in the age group from 20 to 79 years old in 2021 [1].

The most prevalent form of diabetes is type 2, which is characterized by impaired hepatic glucose metabolism, reduced pancreatic beta cell function, and peripheral insulin resistance [3].

 The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recommend α-glucosidase inhibitors as the first-line therapy because they are safe, effective, have a low incidence of hypoglycemia, and have tolerance in the cardiovascular system [4];

 however, it has been claimed that this medication produces undesirable side effects [5]. 

Therefore, an investigation of natural ingredients that are both effective and safe has the potential to mitigate the risk of type 2 diabetes and its associated complications.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is the sixth most grown food worldwide [6]. 

Its leaves are renowned for their antioxidant capabilities, surpassing those of ascorbic acid, tea, and grape seed polyphenols by a factor of 3.1, 5.9, and 9.6, respectively [7]. 

Remarkably, the leaf parts of 40 sweet potato cultivars contain a significant amount of polyphenols ranging from 7.39 to 14.66 g/100 g dry weight (DW) [8].

 Within sweet potato leaves, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives were identified as contributors to the observed hypoglycemic effects [9]. 

Sweet potato leaf ethanol extract obtained from Aan village, Klungkung, Bali consists of diverse flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavones, whose concentrations in the extract exhibited a linear correlation with the decrease in blood glucose and malondialdehyde levels [10].

 Additionally, the type and concentration of phytochemicals found in sweet potatoes affect their anti-diabetic action [11]. 

Despite numerous studies investigating the anti-diabetic effects and mechanisms of Ipomoea batatas, comprehensive documentation is lacking. Therefore, this systematic review aims to provide an overview of the compounds responsible for the anti-diabetic activity and to elucidate their mechanisms of action.

 This review will function as a comprehensive database, aiding other researchers in identifying the subsequent steps for the development of Ipomoea batatas-based products.

Ref

Foods. 2023 Jul 24;12(14):2810. doi: 10.3390/foods12142810

Mechanism of Anti-Diabetic Activity from Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas): A Systematic Review

Cokorda Istri Sri Arisanti 1,2, I Made Agus Gelgel Wirasuta 2, Ida Musfiroh 1, Emmy Hainida Khairul Ikram 3,4,5, Muchtaridi Muchtaridi 1,5,*