Purple Fleshed Sweet Potato: A Natural source of Anticancer compounds and its Pharmacognostic evaluation

Purple fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a dicotyledonous plant belongs to the family, Convolvulaceae. They are rich in, starch, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. High concentration of anthocyanin and presence of wide variety of antioxidants, including beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin help to protect cells from damage, reduce inflammation and can lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer and cognitive decline. Despite their natural sweetness, they have a relatively low glycaemic index and can regulate blood sugar levels and prevent spikes in insulin levels, making them a good choice for people with diabetes. Sweet potato is a highly valuable food crop in the present scenario and hence phytochemical properties and anti-cancer studies were carried out using the tubers of purple fleshed sweet potato. Results revealed the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenol, quinones, saponins, steroids, tannin, terpenoids and protein while using water, ethyl acetate and water extracts. In vitro cytotoxicity assay conducted with cell line DLA (Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites) proved 60.5% efficacy of water extract.