The sweetpotato leaves are rich in phytonutrients such as polyphenolics, vitamins, protein, iron, calcium, and zinc. The sweetpotato is also selected by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration to develop in a controlled ecological life provision system as a key food basis. Therefore to find out suitable genotypes with higher phytonutrients contents and the physiological functions were compared in leaves of sixty sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) genotypes. Total phenol, carotenoid, anthocyanin and flavonoids contents of the sweetpotato leaves ranged from 2.0 to 22.5 (g/100g DW), 0.9 to 23.4 (beta carotene equivalents/100g; BET/100g), 2.2 to 24.5 (color value/g DW) and 62.8 to 272.2 (catechin equivalents; µg/g), respectively. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) namely caffeic acid (CA), chlorogenic acid (ChA), 4,5-diCQA, 3,5-diCQA, 3,4-diCQA and 3,4,5-triCQA of the genotypes were 124.9%, 83.9%, 76.1%, 83.2%, 104.4% and 96.5%, respectively. The fallouts demonstrate that radical scavenging activity (RSA) broadly fluctuate among the genotypes (0.21-2.3 µmole Trolox/mg DW). Antimutagenicity in the leaves was explored using the Salmonella typhimurium TA 98. The genotypes effectively decreased the reverse mutation induced by Trp-P-1, and the mutagenic activities were dose dependent. Furthermore, the caffeic acid derivatives also capable of reduced the reverse mutation persuaded by Trp-P-1, Trp-P-2, IQ, and DEGB extract of grilled beef. Among the CAD, the 3, 4, 5-tri-CQA significantly higher earmarked the reverse mutation followed by 4-5 di-CQA. Sweetpotato leaves had a high concentration of naturally active biological compounds that show significant physiological functions, which might have values in the anticipation of certain human health conditions.

anthocyanin, carotenoid, flavonoid, phenolic acids, physiological functions, sweetpotato leaves