Technologies for the Use and Consumption of Sweet Potato Leaves and Their Bioactive Compounds

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is native American; nevertheless, Asia and Africa are the leading producers and consumers of this product. Mainly, sweet potato is cultivated for its tubers, since they are a rich source of carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. On the other hand, sweet potato leaves (SPL) are also consumed in Taiwan and China, and are prepared in various ways (boiled, fried, baked, dehydrated, and fermented). This document shows a compendium of research related to the identification and quantification of the bioactive compounds in SPL, and how cooking processes and extraction technologies allow their use. Finally, the benefits of the bioactive compounds in SPL for human health are also reviewed. Lastly, promoting SPL consumption in Central America is necessary because it can be an alternative to reducing health problems caused by poor eating habits.