There is no doubt about it, Sweet potato benefits are known to almost every one of us. Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) came to Europe from Central and South America, where they were found by the Spanish. With the botanical name Ipomoea batatas, sweet potatoes arrived later on to other countries as Philippines, China and later one Japan, where they were brought by the Chineese in the 17th century, becoming very popular rapidly.

Ipomoea batatas is cultivated extensively for its nutritious value across many regions of the world, in fact many people consume it as a source of staple food [1,2,3,4]. Ipomoea batatas continues to be of remarkable economic value as the sixth most plentiful food crop in the world [5]. Other reports rank sweet potato seventh among staple crops, with 133 million tons produced annually, 117 of which in a single country, China [10,11], where it is a very popular part of many dishes and culinary preparations.

But Ipomoea batatas is not only popular for its sweet tuberous roots, its leaves or greens are very popular in China, where they are extensively consumed as a vegetable. In other countries as Africa and Asia, Ipomoea batatas leaves or greens are considered a very healthy food and an excellent source of dietary Polyphenols such as anthocyanins and phenolic acids [15], and these are not the only sweet potato benefits, they have many more, would you like to know them? Image: Sweet potatoes roasting on an open fire by Ironchefbalara under Creative Common license (CC BY 2.0).

IPOMOEA BATATAS 

Family: Convolvulaceae 
Genus: Ipomoea
Common name: Sweet potatoes, Sweetpotato (USA), Yam (USA), Kumara (NZ) [19].

To the already reported benefits of coffee, namely on some neurological (infant hyperactivity, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases), metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, gallstones, liver cirrhosis), and gonadal and liver function properties [11] we will have to add a new property, its capability to considerably lower the incidence of type 2 diabetes, or at least that's what it has been announced in a report published by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC). Reports published on the subject suggest that every additional cup of coffee up to 6-8 cups /day (regular or decaffeinated) is associated with a 5-10% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes [10].

Rich in antioxidants and nutrients, coffee has generally been associated with a healthy profile in consumers [11], but pay attention, depending on the quantities consumed, coffee consumption can affect the intake of some minerals (K, Mg, Mn, Cr), niacin and antioxidant substances [12], something to be considered if we are hooked to it. Image: Coffee by stacey.d under Creative Common license (CC BY 2.0).

COFFEA ARABICA

Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Coffea
Common name: Coffee

In spite some of the properties and health benefits of Coconut oil have been extensively broadcasted by the media (fighting Alzheimer's disease for example), some others have not yet been mentioned, mainly due to the fact that they were so far "unknown properties" that coconut oil was never thought to exert.

One of this properties refers to the ability that Coconut oil has to fight certain types of bacteria, among them some strains of Streptococcus bacteria which are common inhabitants of the mouth [14].

It was already known that digested coconut oil is able to attack the bacteria causing tooth decay, however, it wasn't until now that researchers from Athione Institute of Technology found how enzyme-modified coconut oil strongly inhibited the growth of most strains of Streptococcus bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, an acid-producing bacterium that is a major cause of tooth decay [14]. Image left: Coconut oil by Phu Thinh Co under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

COCOS NUCIFERA

Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Cocos
Common name: Coconut

A rough estimation of the World Health Organization (WHO) calculated the total amount of people affected by Alzheimer's disease would be about 25 million worldwide by 2025 [6], actual figures estimate that today, 2012, that amount has reached the incredible figure of 33.9 million! people affected by Alzheimer's disease [7], and foreseen to triple in the coming 40 years. In spite Alzheimer's disease can occur at any age, it is very seldom that cases are reported between the age of 40 to 50 years, and chances to get affected by Alzheimer's disease are increasing between 60 and 65 years old.

Many lines of investigation to prevent and even treat Alzheimer's disease are open, some of them involving natural molecules and phytochemicals found in herbs and plants. But, what are the past, present and future lines of investigation on the field Alzheimer's disease involving the use of these natural molecules and phytochemicals found in herbs and plants? This article covers the principle lines of investigation involving the latests findings on active constituents found in herbs and plants.