Carica papaya leaf extract: potential therapeutic effects- A review

Abstract

Carica papaya (C. papaya, family Caricarceae, papaya) is one of the most popular and economically important tropical plants in the world. The plant is rich in bioactive secondary metabolites like alkaloids, phenolics, Carbohydrates, terpenoids, phytosterols, glycosides, flavonoids, carotenoids, tannins, saponins. The plant has been used traditionally for many beneficial effects like pyrexia, diabetes, bacterial and fungal infections, hypertension, beri beri, asthma etc. The strong defensive mechanism of the principal constituents of leaves proved anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects. Leaves contain an alkaloid called carpaine and a glucoside named carposide. Research done extensively on C. papaya leaf extract revealed to possess haemopoietic and thrombopoietic activites. Various invittro and in vivo models have been successfully employed to prove the anticancer and anti-dengue effects of C. Papaya. The extract in the form of tablets and syrups is available for the convenient administration. Further more studies are encouraged to be performed on the leaves and leaf extracts for the possible extraction of principal constituents for various therapeutic activities