Carica Papaya L
It is a fleshy trunk tree native to Central America and is flourishingly cultivated throughout the tropics, the fruits are large berries 20-30 cm in diameter that can weigh up to 5Kg. The drug consists of the latex, which has a characteristic faintly salty flavor and is extracted by incising the fruit almost at maturity. By dissolution in water of the juice thus obtained and subsequent alcoholic precipitation, purified papain is obtained, which manifests marked proteolytic activity.
This activity of the enzyme papain, promotes digestion particularly of protein foods, and acts as an anti-inflammatory by going on to neutralize the very mediators of inflammation; it promotes gastric emptying and optimal digestion of foods. The fruit contains protein, fat, fiber, carbohydrates, minerals: calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin C, Vit B9,niacin B3, thiamine, riboflavin B2, carotenoids, amino acids, flavonoids, citric and malic acids and a low calorie content. It is used as a carminative, digestive, diuretic.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Indian Materia Medica by K M Nadkarni, 1Edn by A. K. Nadkarni, Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd, Bombay, 1954, pp.273-277
Chan H-T, Tang C-S. The chemistry and biochemistry of papaya. In Inglett GE, Charolambous G (Eds) Tropical Foods (Vol I), Academic Press, New York. 1979
Maugini E. Handbook of Pharmaceutical Botany, 1988.Piccin
