Papaya Biology, Cultivation, Production and Uses

Papaya as Medicaments 171

TABLE 16.1 (

Continued

)

Nutritive Value and Medicinal Uses of Different Parts of Papaya TreeSource

Nutritional Value

Medicinal Uses

Remarks

Root

Carposide and enzyme myrosin.

Abortifacient, diuretic, checks irregular bleeding from uterus and piles, antifungal activity.

Excessive use of root causes bleeding from uterus, piles and antifungal activity.

Leaves

Alkaloids (carpaine, pseudocarpaine and dehydrocarpaine, choline, carposide), vitamin C and E.

Recently matured leaf extract used for improving the platelets count in dengue patients. Fine paste of leaves used for jaundice, urinary complaints, gonorrhoea (infusion), dressing wound due to antibacterial property.

Excessive use of leaf extract causes heart and respiration diseases like digitalis.

Bark

β-sitosterol, glucose, fructose, sucrose and xylitol.

Jaundice, anti-haemolytic and anti-fungal activity.

—

Latex

Proteolytic enzymes, papain, chemopapain, glutamine, cyclortransferase, chymopapains A, B, C, peptidase A, B and lysozymes.

Anathematic, relieves dyspepsia, cures diarrhoea, pain of burn, topical use, bleeding haemorrhoids, stomachic and whooping cough.

Excess use of papain causes allergens, protein breakdown, stomach ulcer, skin burning, etc.

Source:

Adapted from Krishna, K. L., M. Paridhavi and J. A. Patel, 2008,

Natural Product Radiance,

7:364–73; Boshra, V. and A.Y. Tajul, 2013,

Health Environment

Journal,

4(1):68–75; Saran, P. L. and R. Choudhary, 2013,

African Journal of Agriculture Research,

8(25): 3216–23.