Carica Papaya as a Source of Natural Medicine and Its Utilization in Selected Pharmacetical Applications

This paper aims at reviewing Carica papaya as potential natural medicinal source. Several studies on methods used in extracting Carica papaya materials from different parts of the plant were highlighted. Extracts from different parts of Carica papaya plant have shown protective effects against many diseases such as intestinal worms infection and different types of wounds. Extracts also showed positive effects when used as antiparasitic, antiseptic, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, antihypertensive and antidiabetic. For instance, treating rats with extract prepared from Carica papaya leaves resulted in significant effects on wound healing. However, when rats supplemented with diet mixed with extract from the leaves of the plant it protected them against gastric damage. Moreover, extracts of both ripe and unripe fruit have proven antiulcer when examined in laboratory animals. However, studies on the effects of the types of the extracts on treatments of laboratory animals in selected pharmaceutical applications were also summarized. As a conclusion, Carica papaya is one of the most effective sources of natural medicine and widely used in pharmacological applications. It is used to treat several diseases such as tumors, nervous pain, asthma and wounds.