Nutritional and Phyto-Therapeutic Potential of Papaya (Carica Papaya Linn.): An Overview

Abstract

Carica papaya is an economically vivacious plant of tropical and subtropical regions, cultivated in over 50 countries across the world with 6.8 million tons production. Papaya holds a broad spectrum of phytochemicals, including polysaccharides, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, and phytosterols. These bioactive components are responsible for the pharmacological properties of this auspicious plant and demonstrate its importance in daily intake and alimentation. Additionally, it is an excellent aid to digestion and also hydrolyzing gluten, which is an important aspect for dyspeptic and celiac disease patients. Papaya acts as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarminative, anticancer, and has hepato-protective, immunological, and other therapeutic attributes. The seed and pulp of papaya have bacteriostatic effects against several enteropathogens, such as Bacillus subtilus and E. coli. In the current review, pharmacological attributes, nutritional value of papaya, and medicinal properties of its various parts have been elaborated to provide collective information on this multipurpose commercial plant. Moreover, its role in the production of alcohol and carboxymethyl cellulose is also the limelight of the article. Furthermore, the present review article summarizes the literature pertaining to its pharmakinetics and also allies its health claims. Yet, the authors are still of the view that further research needs to be conducted for meticulousness.

Quantification of Quercetin and Chlorogenic Acid in Papaya Seed Ethanol Extract

“…It can be seen from the Table 3 that papaya seed ethanolic extract contained quercetin in average 4.58±0.03 ng/ml which is widely known to have antioxidant activity [17] and various other medicinal properties are in accordance with research reported by Xu et al [18][19][20] that the application of quercetin can promote fracture healing in smokers by removing free radicals and upregulating the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutase-1, which protects primary human osteoblasts exposed to cigarette smoke. The previous research conducted by the author found that papaya seed extract can increase the number of osteoblast periodontitis-induced rat cells, possibly derived from the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of quercetin.…”

Phytochemicals of papaya and its traditional health and culinary uses – A review

“…In addition, unripe fruit and leaf is used traditionally by the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria for the treatment of jaundice, malaria, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia (Ene et al, 2008;Lim, 2012;Oladunmoye and Kehinde, 2011;Saeed et al, 2014). The seed of the plant is normally discarded and not eaten due to its spicy and pungent flavour.…”

Screening of metabolites from endophytic fungi of some Nigerian medicinal plants for antimicrobial activities

“…Newbouldia laevis (Bignoniaceae), Ocimum gratissimum (Lamiaceae), and Carica papaya (Caricaceae) are medicinal plants commonly found in Nigeria. These plants have been used ethnomedicinally in the treatment of several disease conditions including ulcers, burns, diarrhea, bleeding, haemorrhoids, dysentery, abdominal pains, cough, colds, pruritus, stress, headache, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy and convulsions (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12).…”