Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas).Plant Part Used: Root (tuber), leaf, stem.Dominican Medicinal Uses: The fresh root is traditionally prepared as a poultice and applied topically for burns and wounds. The root is also cooked and ingested, for women’s health conditions and nutrition. The leaves and stems may be prepared as an aqueous maceration and applied topically for wound-healing.Safety: The tuber is widely consumed and generally considered safe except if contaminated by a toxic fungal infection. No data has been identified in the available literature on the safety of the leaves and stems.Clinical Data: Human clinical trials: antidiabetic, improved vitamin A status (tuber).Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antidiabetic, antioxidant, hypoglycemic (tuber, extracts or constituents).In vitro: aldose reductase inhibition, antimicrobial, antioxidant, immune-enhancing (tuber, extracts or constituents)* See entry for Batata in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.
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