Papaya, is a tropical fruit, often seen in orange-red, yellow-green and yellow-orange hues, with a rich orange pulp. The fruit is not just delicious and healthy, but whole plant parts, fruit, roots, bark, peel, seeds and pulp are also known to have medicinal properties. 

The many benefits of papaya owed due to high content of Vitamins A, B and C, proteolytic enzymes like papain and chymopapain which have antiviral,antifungal and antibacterial properties. 

Papaya has been used for treatment of a numerous diseases like warts, corns, sinuses, eczema, glandular tumors, blood pressure, dyspepsia, constipation, expel worms and has even been used in treating dengue fever, but these have no scientific evidence as of now.

Recent research on papaya leaf tea extract has demonstrated cancer cell growth inhibition. It appears to boost the production of key signaling molecules called Th1-type cytokines, which help regulate the immune system. It also has  antimalarial and antiplasmodial activity and the leaves are made into tea as a treatment for malaria. 

The nutritional values of papaya help to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. Papaya is a good source of iron and calcium, vitamins A, B and excellent source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Papaya has the following health benefits.

• Digestive properties. Papaya contains papain, an enzyme that is similar to pepsin, a digestive enzyme in our body. Papaya contains several unique protein-digesting proteolytic enzymes including papain and chymopapain.  It can be used to alleviate symptoms of indigestion, bloating and flatulence and as a digestive and antacid.

• Reduces blood pressure:  An alkaloid called Carpaine, slows the heart rate in humans and thus reduces blood pressure. Its action is similar to the drug prescribed for heart patients, digitalis. The alkaloid is reported to be able to kill worms and amoebas.

• Anti oxidant: Papaya has an abundance of cancer fighting lycopene. It is a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of many important carotenoids, such as beta-carotene and xanthophylls.

• Blood clotting: Another useful compound not readily found in the plant kingdom is Fibrin, found in papaya. It reduces the risk of blood clots and improves the quality of blood cells, optimizing the ability of blood to flow through the circulatory system. Fibrin is also important in preventing stoke.

Pregnant women are usually told to avoid papaya since it induces premature labour.  But this effect to some extent is only found in raw papaya which has a substance called “latex” that can increase production of certain hormones that can induce labour.  Latex is not found in ripe fruit, and in small amounts, ripe papaya is absolutely safe in pregnancy.