Bioactive Caffeoylquinic Acid Derivatives from Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatasL.) Leaves: A Comprehensive Review

Bioactive compounds from natural sources are gaining significant attention due to their potential health benefits. Caffeoylquinic Acids (CQAs), isolated from the leaves of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.), represent a promising class of polyphenolic compounds. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of CQAs and their derivatives, focusing on their extraction, characterization, and therapeutic applications. Sweet potato leaves, an abundant agricultural byproduct, are particularly rich in these compounds, which exhibit potent antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties. The review explores the structural diversity of CQAs, including mono-, di-, and tri-caffeoyl derivatives, and examines their bioactivity and stability. Extraction techniques, mainly green synthesis methods, have enhanced the efficiency and sustainability of isolating these bioactives, paving the way for their broader application in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and functional foods. Furthermore, the review delves into the mechanisms underlying the health-promoting effects of CQAs, emphasizing their roles in free radical scavenging, modulation of inflammatory pathways, and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Emerging studies suggest that CQAs may regulate metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia, by influencing glucose and lipid metabolism. Despite promising findings, challenges remain, such as limited bioavailability and a lack of clinical studies confirming efficacy in human populations. CQAs from sweet potato leaves present a natural and sustainable source of bioactive compounds with considerable therapeutic potential.