Papaya (Carica papaya)

• Papaya (Carica papaya) is a fruit-bearing tree grown in tropical regions around the world. Commonly eaten parts of the plant include the fruit and leaves. Traditionally, juice from the papaya fruit and root has been used to treat boils, burns, and warts. The leaves have been used to treat ulcers and, together with papaya seeds, intestinal parasites. Unripened papaya fruit also has been used for wound healing, colds, and indigestion; the roots and seeds have been used for hemorrhoids and to induce abortion. Papaya also has been used as a folk remedy for birth control and as a digestive aid.
• The fruit and leaves contain the protein-digesting enzymes papain and chymopapain, which have been isolated and studied for their effects on injured skin tissue. Results of research suggest that the papaya fruit, enzymes, and seed extracts may have other therapeutic properties such as anticancer, antifungal, antiparasitic, blood lipid-lowering, blood sugar-lowering, birth control, and immune system effects. Despite a wealth of positive early research, high quality human trials supporting the use of papaya for any human condition remain lacking.