We investigated the effects of an ethanol extract of potato peel on T helper cytokines production in cultured murine Peyer’s patch cells ex vivo. Oral administration of the 70% ethanol extract at 100 mg/kg/day significantly enhanced the production of the Th1 cytokine IL-2 in response to concanavalin A. A decrease in the production of the Th2 cytokine IL-4 and the Th17 cytokine IL-17 was observed. The production of the Treg cytokine IL-10 was not affected. These results suggest that the potato peel extract stimulates Th1 immune response.

Folic acid contained in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers is concentrated in potato chips by dehydration during frying. It is a vitamin recommended to young women which helps protect fetus from congenital disease. Additionally, folic acid can lower plasma homocysteine concentrations, a known independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study was designed to determine whether the dietary consumption of potato chips affect serum folic acid concentration and plasma homocysteine concentration in human subjects. Results showed a significant increase in serum concentrations of folate 1, 3, and 6 hours after ingestion. Vitamin B₆, on the other hand, increased significantly after 3 hours of intake. In contrast, plasma homocysteine concentration decreased significantly 6 hours after ingestion. These results suggest that potato chips would be a good dietary source of folic acid for humans.