Papaya (Carica papaya) plant: general information, chemical content, and potential health benefits

Автор: Shokirov A., Jalilov F., Tuychiyev G.

Статья в выпуске: 4 (97), 2025 года.

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Carica papaya, commonly known as papaya, is a tropical fruit-bearing plant renowned for its nutritional value and diverse medicinal properties. This study aims to provide a detailed overview of its botanical characteristics, chemical constituents, and therapeutic potentials. Through literature review and phytochemical analysis data, the plant is shown to possess compounds such as papain, flavonoids, phenolics, and carotenoids. These confer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and potential antidiabetic properties. Given its wide application in traditional and modern medicine, further clinical research is warranted to validate its pharmacological effects.

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Carica papaya, phytochemicals, papain, flavonoids, antioxidant, medicinal plants, traditional medicine

Короткий адрес: https://sciup.org/140311477

IDR: 140311477

Текст научной статьи Papaya (Carica papaya) plant: general information, chemical content, and potential health benefits

The growing interest in plant-based therapies has brought tropical plants such as Carica papaya into the spotlight. Native to Central America but now widely cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions, papaya is known not only for its sweet fruit but also for the therapeutic potential of its leaves, seeds, and latex. Used traditionally to treat digestive issues, infections, and inflammation, papaya’s health benefits are primarily attributed to its rich phytochemical content. This study outlines the chemical composition and pharmacological applications of the Carica papaya plant.

2. Materials and Methods

This paper is based on a comprehensive literature review. Scientific databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched using keywords such as "Carica papaya", "phytochemicals ", "medicinal properties", and "papain enzyme". Priority was given to peer-reviewed articles and data from ethnopharmacological surveys. In addition, tables summarizing key compounds and health effects were constructed based on phytochemical screening studies and pharmacological reviews.

3. Results 3.1 Botanical Overview

Carica papaya is a fast-growing, herbaceous plant from the family Caricaceae. It reaches heights of 3–10 meters and produces large fruits containing numerous black seeds. It thrives in warm, humid climates with well-drained soils. A diagram of the plant structure is shown in Figure 1 .

Figure 1: Botanical Illustration of Carica papaya (fruit, leaves, seeds, and stem)
3.2 Chemical Constituents
3.3 Pharmacological Effects

The papaya plant contains various bioactive compounds distributed across its fruit, leaves, seeds, and latex. Table 1 summarizes key phytochemicals and their sources.

Table 1 : Major Chemical Constituents of Carica papaya

Compound Class	Compound Name(s)	Plant Part	Pharmacological Role
Proteolytic Enzymes	Papain, Chymopapain	Latex, Fruit	Digestive aid, anti inflammatory
Flavonoids	Quercetin, Kaempferol	Leaves, Seeds	Antioxidant, anti inflammatory
Carotenoids	β-Carotene, Lycopene	Fruit	Antioxidant, skin health
Phenolics	Caffeic acid, Ferulic acid	Leaves	Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial
Alkaloids	Carpaine	Leaves	Antihypertensive
Fatty Acids	Oleic acid, Palmitic acid	Seeds	Antimicrobial, cholesterol control

Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have reported the biological activities of C. papaya extracts.

Table 2 : Reported Health Benefits of Carica papaya Extracts

Health Effect	Active Components	Mechanism	Evidence Source
Antioxidant	Flavonoids, Lycopene	Scavenges ROS	In vitro, in vivo
Anti-inflammatory	Papain, Flavonoids	Inhibits cytokine production	Animal models
Antidiabetic	Leaf extract	Improves insulin sensitivity	Animal studies
Antimicrobial	Alkaloids, phenolics	Disrupts microbial membranes	In vitro
Gastrointestinal aid	Papain	Enhances protein digestion	Human and animal
Wound healing	Latex	Promotes tissue regeneration	Animal studies

The wide array of phytochemicals found in Carica papaya provides scientific justification for its use in traditional medicine. The proteolytic enzyme papain has been well-studied for its digestive benefits and wound-healing capabilities. Similarly, the antioxidant effects of flavonoids and carotenoids are promising in the prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases.

The antimicrobial activity of papaya seed extracts against E. coli and S. aureus suggests potential as a natural preservative or antimicrobial agent. The antidiabetic effect, primarily attributed to leaf extracts, may pave the way for supportive therapies in metabolic disorders, although clinical validation is necessary.

Toxicity concerns arise with high consumption of seeds and unripe fruit latex, especially during pregnancy. Standardized dosages and long-term safety studies are essential for its application in clinical settings.

5. Conclusion

Carica papaya represents a valuable plant in both nutritional and medicinal contexts. Its diverse chemical profile and health-promoting properties justify its growing interest in pharmacognosy and ethnopharmacology. Future research should focus on isolating active compounds, exploring synergistic effects, and conducting well-designed clinical trials.

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