Reference: Nutrient value of Carica papaya followed from USDA
National Nutrient Database and Recommended Daily Allowance
(RDA) referred from ‘Nutrient Requirements and Recommended
Dietary Allowances for Indians’ followed from Indian Council of
Medical Research (ICMR), Draft Guidelines 2009 [16,17].
Anticancer activity
An in vitro study using extract of the papaya seed homogenate was
highly effective in inhibition of super oxide generation and inducing
apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 and the
activity was mainly contributed by benzyl isothiocyanate [BITC]
[15]. The BITC isolated from papaya fruit extract induced cytotoxic
effect in proliferating human colon CCD-18Co cells to the quiscient
state [18]. The aqueous extract of Carica papaya exposed to onion
bulbs disturbed the mitotic cell divison of Allium cepa by affecting
the spindle formation and hence shows its cytotoxic effect [19]. The
aqueous extract of papaya flesh (0.01% - 4% v/v) treated with
breast cancer cell line MCF7 revealed significant inhibition of cell
proliferation [20]. Aqueous extract of papaya leaves in an
unrevealed composition shown to possess anticancer activity and
inhibition of cell proliferation in a variety of cancer cell lines, which
has been patented by Morimoto et al [21]. Likewise, the aqueous
extract demonstrated antitumor activity and immunomodulatory
activity in tumor cell lines and it proved upregulation of
immunomodulatory genes by microarray studies [22]. However,
further investigation using cell culture studies, animal studies and
clinical trials are needed for proving the chemoprevention and
therapeutic potential of different parts of papaya and check the
adverse effects if any in consumption of some parts of papaya [23].
Anti-inflammatory activity
The C.papaya leaf extract was examined in rats using edema,
granuloma and arthritis models. The extract showed significant
reduction in paw edema, granuloma formation and reduced
inflammation in rats. Thus it proved the anti-inflammatory activity
of C.papaya [2]. Intake of papaya fruits in healthy individuals
alleviated anti-inflammatory response mediated through regulatory
T-cells (Tregs) [24]. However, the latex obtained from unripe fruit
has the property of inducing inflammation and it is proved in rat as a
model for testing the anti-inflammatory activity of compounds [25].