Bioactive Chemicals and Biological Activities of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Potato is accepted as a high-yielding staple food for feeding humans and is recommended as a global food security crop. Researchers and food technologists have shown great interest in the bioactive chemicals of potatoes due to their health-benefiting activities. Potatoes contain various bioactive constituents like phenolic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic, and ferulic acid), anthocyanins (pelargonidin, delphinidin, and malvidin), and glycoalkaloids which are believed to be beneficial for good health. These compounds not only cure diseases but also play important role in preventing them. In the present scenario, potatoes have the potential to be utilized as a source of bioactive chemicals in preventing heart diseases, obesity, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and inflammation of cells. Studies have supported the role of potato intake in diabetes and weight management. Phenolic extracts of colored potatoes have an immense potential for utilization as sources of antioxidants in functional foods. The present chapter provides information about the nutritional composition and bioactive chemicals present in potatoes, their biological activities, and their health benefits.