MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE OF PAPITA (CARICA PAPAYA): A REVIEW

Abstract

The papita (Carica papaya) is a plant used in unani medicines since ages, which is a vital fruit from the Caricaceae Family and is a small fast growing, soft-wooded and short-lived tree with milky sap. The skin of the fruit is green in color while it is unripe and it turns yellow to orange as the fruit ripens. It is known as papaw or pawpaw and also it is known by different names in regional languages. It is a medicinal plant that has been extensively used in traditional medicine due to their versatile benefits to cure different diseases since ancient times till date. It is a rich source of powerful antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and high content of fiber. It is evident that the compound of C. papaya has been reported to contain antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties. Earlier reports have proven that C. papaya fruit and its active ingredients show important role in health management. Because of this comprehensive medicinal value of Carica papaya in this review article, we have aimed to evaluate the medicinal properties of papaya in wound healing, Hypoglycemic activity, in cardiovascular and infectious diseases, malaria and dengue fever, cancer and other various diseases prevention and treatment.