Papaya
(Carica papaya) is an evergreen flowering tree that is valued for its buttery
fruit that is believed to offer many health benefits. The amazing papaya fruit
contains enzymes and compounds that can prevent cancer, ageing and can promote
healthier heart. The papaya is a short-lived, fast-growing, woody, large herb
to 10 or 12 feet in height. It generally branches only when injured. All parts
contain latex. The hollow green or deep purple trunk is straight and
cylindrical with prominent leaf scars. Its diameter may be from 2 or 3 inches
to over a foot at the base.
Scientific
Name: Carica Papaya. Also knows as: Papita, Papeeta, Papiitaa, Melon tree,
Papaw, Paw paw. Papaya (Carica papaya) is one of the all year round favorite
dessert fruits known for its sweet, juicy, melt on your mouth flesh. Papaya is
not only delicious but it is likewise packed with vitamins and minerals that
offer many health benefits for the usual papaya lover.
Papaya
plants grow in three sexes: male, female, hermaphrodite. The male produces only
pollen, never fruit. The female will produce small, inedible fruits unless
pollinated. The hermaphrodite can self-pollinate since its flowers contain both
male stamens and female ovaries. Almost all commercial papaya orchards contain
only hermaphrodites. According to Wikipedia, papaya may have probably
originated from the tropics of America especially southern Mexico where it was
first cultivated and was later propagated in other tropical and sub-tropical
countries in the continents of America, Australia, Africa and Asia.
Papaya
Description: The papaya plant which has a semblance of a tree has usually one erect
trunk that can grow to about 4 to 7 meters in height. Papaya tree is
characterized with large green leaves that have seven to nine deeply palmate
lobes with elongated hollow petioles spirally confined at the top of the trunk.
Older leaves are shed off as the tree grows leaving scars at the trunk.
Papaya
fruits have smooth skin, green while young turning yellow when ripe. Papaya
fruit varies in size and shape depending on the variety and type of plant. The
common Philippine papaya is usually pear shape about 10 to 40 cm in length upon
maturity. Ripe papaya feels soft, the skin has a yellowish color and when
opened it has soft orange-yellowish flesh with numerous small black seeds
embedded at the hollow center.
Papaya Traditional
Health Benefits. Papaya is widely used as folkloric herbal medicine. Papaya is known for
the following health benefits: Acne and skin infections. Papaya contains Vitamin A which provides a
fresh and glowing skin. It is used in Acne control and protects the skin from
infections. Wound Healing. Papaya helps to speed up the healing of
wounds. Papain extracted from the fruit
and leaves is also the main ingredient of an ointment popularly used as a
topical application for cuts, rashes, stings and burns.
Anti-aging. Papaya is rich in
antioxidants that helps defer premature aging.
It is widely used in cosmetics as an exfoliant and skin softener and whitener.
Improves and preserves good vision. The vitamin A rich papaya helps in
preserving good eyesight. It also contains flavonoids and Beta carotene that
protects against Macular degeneration. Anthelmintic. The compound papain
found in the seeds of papaya can destroy and flush out worms from the body. Ingest Papaya seeds with
honey 30 minutes before or after a meal.
Constipation and dyspepsia. Papaya fruit is rich in fiber that
improves digestion and softens the bowel movement.
Colon Cancer. The anti oxidant
activity coupled by rich fiber content of papaya fruit helps in absorbing the
toxins from the colon that protects the good cells from free radicals and
damage. This in turn helps prevent the development of colon cancer. Lowers
the blood pressure. Papaya fruit contains a good amount of Calcium and
Potassium. These minerals are important in regulating the blood pressure and
metabolism. Prevents atherosclerosis and heart disease. Papaya is rich
in vitamins A and vitamin C, well known powerful antioxidants that inhibits the
oxidation of cholesterol in the blood and prevents the build up of plaque along
the inner walls of the arteries. Unchecked plaque build up is the main cause of
heart attack or stroke.
Weight loss. The rich vitamins and
minerals of papaya fruit coupled by high fiber content and the low calories
makes this an ideal food for weight loss. That is why it is good for Diabetic
patients. Boosts the immune system.
The vitamins,, minerals and coumpounds found in papaya fruit are known to
strengthen the immunse system of the body, improving resistance against illness
and infections. Menstruation and pregnancy. Papaya fruit regulates the
menstrual flow and eases the condition in menstrual cramps. It is also used to
alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness for pregnant women. Abortificient.
Extracts from papaya roots are used to abort early pregnancy. Dengue fever.
The papaya leaf juice is used in treating dengue fever. It helps in increasing
the platelet count in a dengue patient.
Papaya Usage,
Dosage. Carica
Papaya tree can be found almost every where. You can check with your local
horticulturist for seeds or small trees for personal cultivation. The papaya
fruit is largely available in most fruit stands, grocery stores and
supermarkets. Papaya fruits, roots and leaves extracts and other herbal
medicine preparations can also be fought from reputable health stores. Online,
Amazon listed American Health Multi-Enzyme Plus, Super Papaya.
How to use Papaya
herbal medicine? Papaya fruit. The fuit has a sweet and soft pulp that is best eaten
when ripe or as mixed is salads. The young papaya fruit is also considered as
vegetable used in cooking. Papaya leaves. Fresh papaya leaves can be
pounded or chewed and consumed by mouth. Maximum dosage is two tablespoon per
day. Papaya tea from roots, flowers and leaves. The papaya decoction or
tea can be prepared by choping the roots, flowers and leaves then boiled in
water (see below). Papaya tea decoction is taken twice to three times a day.
Papaya poultice. Fresh papaya leaves can be pounded and applied directly to
the affected area. Papaya seeds. Used as purgative, a spoonful of seeds
is taken three times before meals. Papaya latex. The latex from the
young papaya fruit are applied directly to the affected area. Used to stop
bleeding, treat wounds and avoid infections.
Papaya Tea Preparation.
Wash freshly gathered
Papaya plant parts. chop then add in 4 cups of water for every 1 cup.
Let it boil for 10 to 15 minutes with the pot cover removed. Let it
steep then strain. Drink half cup of Papaya tea three times a day. Papaya
tea concoction can be stored in suitable glass container for later consumption.
Dried leaves are more potent. Reduce the blend by half.
Papaya Use,
Warnings and Side Effects. Generally safe in moderate consumption. Ripe papaya fruit does not have
any serious side effects at moderate consumption even for pregnant mothers and
young children. May cause skin coloration. Ripe papaya just like carrots
contains carotene which may turn the palms and soles yellowish when consumed at
large amount but this does not impose any health danger. Overdosage can be
poisonous. The leaves and roots of Carica papaya contain cyangenic
glucosides which form into cyanide, while the leaves contain tannins. These two
compounds may have adverse side effects when taken at large concentrations.
Pregnancy and
fertility side effects. In animal studies, aqueous extracts of Carica papaya can cause
temporary infertility and irregular oestrous cycles that is reversible when
treatment was stopped. Extracts of papain found in Carica papaya were also
found to induce abortion after conception by dissolving the protein needed by
the newly fertilized egg to adhere to the uterus wall. The abortificient
property is a matter of high dose side effect of Carica papaya toxicity which
affects the fetus. Breast feeding. There are no sufficient studies made
to determine the side effects of Carica Papaya taken in medicinal amounts to
infants and babies. Stay on the safe side, avoid taking Papaya in herbal
medicine dosage while breast feeding.Allergies. In rare cases, the herb
has caused allergic reaction as side effect.
Scientific Studies:
Carica Papaya Herbal Medicine. Dengue fever treatment with Carica papaya leaves
extracts. An article published in Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical
Biomedicine (2011 Aug) reported a study that investigated the potential of
Carica papaya leaves extracts against Dengue fever in 45 year old patient
bitten by dengue virus carrier mosquitoes. The patient was given a dose of 25
mL of aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaves twice daily for five consecutive
days. Before the extract administration the blood samples from patient were
analyzed. It was noted in the report that the platelet count continuously
increased in the duration of the treatment and the condition of the patient
dramatically improved. The study suggests that based from the patient’s
recovery and blood reports, Carica papayaleaves aqueous extract exhibited
potential activity against Dengue fever. Furthermore, the different parts it is
recommended that other parts of Carica papaya may be beneficial against viral
diseases. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614241/
Carica Papaya may
have potential health benefits for blood related medical problems. The Pakistan Journal of
Biological Sciences, issue of March 2011, reported a study on the
phytochemistry and heamotological potential of the ethanol seed, leaf and pulp
extract of Carica papaya. In this study, it was identified that the
phytochemical contents in the seeds, leaf and pulp of Carica papaya were almost
the same but in varying proportions. It was also observed that the
phytochemicals found in Carica papaya significantly improved (P<0.05) the
production of certain blood parameters in treated albino rats. This study
suggests that Carica papaya may have potential health benefits for blood
related medical problems. (Source :
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21902066)
Carica Papaya may
have Anti diabetic health benefits. The Journal of Natural Product Research, issue of
December 2011 reported that a study done in INFORMM, Malaysia identified the
phytochemicals in Carica papaya that may have anti diabetic properties. The
ethanol extracts of Carica papaya and Pandanus amaryfollius were administered
to a group of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats to measure its anti diabetic
effects. Results have shown that there was a significant reduction
(P<0.05)in the blood glucose level in the Carica papaya treated group in
comparison to a control group. Histologically the pancreas of the treated
groups indicated significant regeneration of the β-cells and liver tissues
indicated a reduction in fatty changes and pyknotic nucleus. Moreover, the
kidney tissues of the treated groups indicated significant recovery in the
cuboidal tissue. The study suggests that the phytochemicals found in C. Papaya
and P. amaryfollius may be responsible for the anti diabetic health benefits.
(Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21707251)
Carica papaya
Health Benefits for Digestive Disorders. In a published report in Nuero Endocrinology
Letters 2013, a research was done in Vienna, Austria to verify the folkloric
health benefits of Carica papaya for digestive disorders. Clinical trials
involving volunteers with chronic (prevailing) indigestions and dysfunctions in
the gastrointestinal tract were given papaya preparation (Caricol). They were
compared to a control group given a placebo. Results have shown that there was
a significant improvement in the symptoms of “indigestion” and “bloating” for those
under the papaya preparation as compared to the control group. The study
concludes that the papaya preparation (Caricol®) contributes to the maintenance
of digestive tract physiology. It ameliorates various functional disturbances,
like symptoms of IBS. (Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23524622)
Papaya and
Pregnancy: Safety and Side Effects. The British Journal of Nutrition, August 2002.
published a study done in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
National University, Singapore on the common belief of some Asian communities
that eating papaya can be unsafe for pregnant women. In a laboratory
experiment, the effects of ripe papaya blend (500 ml/l water) and papaya crude
latex to the uteri of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats was compared to a control
group given with water only. Results have shown that ripe papaya has no adverse
or noticeable side effects, while the crude latex induced spasmodic contraction
of the uterine muscles. The study suggests that normal consumption of ripe
papaya during pregnancy may not pose any significant danger. However, the
unripe or semi-ripe papaya (which contains high concentration of the latex that
produces marked uterine contractions) could be unsafe in pregnancy. (Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12144723)
Antihelminthic and
Anti-amoebic Health Benefits from Carica Papaya Seeds. In the Journal of
Medicinal Food, March 2007, an article has been written about a study done on
the effectiveness of dried Carica papaya seeds against human intestinal parasitosis.
The study was done in the College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo
University in Nigeria., where 60 children with evidence of intestinal parasites
were given either dried seeds of Carica papaya mixed with honey or honey alone.
76.7% of those who were given honey mixed with dried seeds of papaya were
cleared of parasites after 7 days while 16.7% of those who took honey alone.
This study concludes that air-dried C. papaya seeds are efficacious in treating
human intestinal parasites and without significant side effects. (Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17472487)
Anti-cancer and
Immunomodulatory Health Benefits of Carica Papaya. A study done in the
Institute of Medical Science in The University of Tokyo, Japan, reported that
aqueous solution of Carica papaya leaf extract have significant growth
inhibitory activity on tumor cell lines. The study further suggests that Carica
papaya leaf extract may potentially provide the means for the treatment and
prevention of selected human diseases such as cancer, various allergic
disorders, and may also serve as immunoadjuvant for vaccine therapy. (Source:
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, February 2010: Aqueous extract of Carica papaya
leaves exhibits anti-tumor activity and immunomodulatory effects)
Antibacterial and
Wound Healing Health Benefits of Carica Papaya fruit Seeds. The West Indian Medical
Journal, December 2003, published an article on the antibacterial activity of
Carica papaya fruit extract against common wound organisms . The study was done
in The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica, where the seed
extracts from the fruit showed inhibition of bacterial activity against B
cereus, E coli, S faecalis, S aureus, P vulgaris and S flexneri. This study
suggests that Carica papaya has antibacterial effects that could be useful in
treating chronic skin ulcers to promote healing.